One of the most controversial German bands, Endstille, has always split audience and critics. Their latest album Kapitulation 2013, released in 2013, will probably split even more. The album is characterized by the fact of not being the artistic apex of the band.
Endstille has stated in the past that they consider monotony as a legitimate means to convey the desired mood and atmosphere. The problem is that in this case Endstille has created a monotonous atmosphere, but in the negative sense of the word: the album sounds really dull; it contains a song called “Monotonous 2013”: the title of this song could well replace Kapitulation 2013 as the album
title.
We should also say that Endstille has attempted to refresh their sound towards a more black'n roll direction. The rhythms are less often frenzied than ever before and singer Zingultus makes extensive use of spoken word; a perfect example is the closer “Endstille (Abschied)” which is all completely spoken against a background of very fast riffs, one of the best moments.
The album consists of ten songs of which the fifth one, “Blasphemer”, is a Sodom cover and the aforementioned “Monotonous 2013” is a re-recorded and lyrically expanded version of “Monotonous III” from Dominanz album from 2004; of the remaining eight, the fourth one “Sick Heil” lasts only one minute and fifty seconds. The opener “Aborted” and the closer “Endstille Abschied)” are among the best songs; noteworthy is also “Reich an Jugend”, which contains an excerpt from a speech by Hitler to Hitler Youth.
As usual Endstille explores many aspects of contemporary history in their lyrics. As previously mentioned, “Reich an Jugend” contains an excerpt from a speech by Hitler to Hitler Youth in 1938. “KDF 511” tells the story of the German ship that was actually named MV Wilhelm Gustloff, while the yard number was 511; this ship was sunk on January 30, 1945 by the Soviet submarine S-13 and nearly 10,000 people died in this tragedy. Endstille interprets the drama of the Nazi period as the decline of a nation from the seduction of youth in 1938 to the Wilhelm Gustloff catastrophe in 1945. But the themes of Endstille deal not only with the dark period of Germany, but also with that of Russia in “Stalin Notes”.
Endstille remains an imperfect band; yet another unimpressive album.
Notes:
Kapitulation 2013 was released on November 8, 2013 through Season of Mist.
Tracklist:
1. “Aborted” 05:01
2. “The Refined Nation” 04:37
3. “Reich an Jugend” 05:22
4. “Sick Heil” 01:50
5. “Blasphemer” (Sodom cover) 03:09
6. “Monotonous 2013” 05:14
7. “Nostalgia” 04:29
8. “Stalin Note” 02:59
9. “KDF 511” 05:16
10. “Endstille (Abschied)” 04:27
Personnel:
Cruor - bass
Mayhemic Destructor - drums
Lars Wachtfels - guitars
Zingultus - vocals
B. Killed - guitars
Endstille has stated in the past that they consider monotony as a legitimate means to convey the desired mood and atmosphere. The problem is that in this case Endstille has created a monotonous atmosphere, but in the negative sense of the word: the album sounds really dull; it contains a song called “Monotonous 2013”: the title of this song could well replace Kapitulation 2013 as the album
title.
We should also say that Endstille has attempted to refresh their sound towards a more black'n roll direction. The rhythms are less often frenzied than ever before and singer Zingultus makes extensive use of spoken word; a perfect example is the closer “Endstille (Abschied)” which is all completely spoken against a background of very fast riffs, one of the best moments.
The album consists of ten songs of which the fifth one, “Blasphemer”, is a Sodom cover and the aforementioned “Monotonous 2013” is a re-recorded and lyrically expanded version of “Monotonous III” from Dominanz album from 2004; of the remaining eight, the fourth one “Sick Heil” lasts only one minute and fifty seconds. The opener “Aborted” and the closer “Endstille Abschied)” are among the best songs; noteworthy is also “Reich an Jugend”, which contains an excerpt from a speech by Hitler to Hitler Youth.
As usual Endstille explores many aspects of contemporary history in their lyrics. As previously mentioned, “Reich an Jugend” contains an excerpt from a speech by Hitler to Hitler Youth in 1938. “KDF 511” tells the story of the German ship that was actually named MV Wilhelm Gustloff, while the yard number was 511; this ship was sunk on January 30, 1945 by the Soviet submarine S-13 and nearly 10,000 people died in this tragedy. Endstille interprets the drama of the Nazi period as the decline of a nation from the seduction of youth in 1938 to the Wilhelm Gustloff catastrophe in 1945. But the themes of Endstille deal not only with the dark period of Germany, but also with that of Russia in “Stalin Notes”.
Endstille remains an imperfect band; yet another unimpressive album.
Notes:
Kapitulation 2013 was released on November 8, 2013 through Season of Mist.
Tracklist:
1. “Aborted” 05:01
2. “The Refined Nation” 04:37
3. “Reich an Jugend” 05:22
4. “Sick Heil” 01:50
5. “Blasphemer” (Sodom cover) 03:09
6. “Monotonous 2013” 05:14
7. “Nostalgia” 04:29
8. “Stalin Note” 02:59
9. “KDF 511” 05:16
10. “Endstille (Abschied)” 04:27
Personnel:
Cruor - bass
Mayhemic Destructor - drums
Lars Wachtfels - guitars
Zingultus - vocals
B. Killed - guitars
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com