Fest der Liebe

Herzschlag | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 22, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B002JNYMN2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #541,424 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome jolt of old-school electro, March 17, 2011

By 

flaviolius (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fest der Liebe (Audio CD)

It's becoming increasingly hard to find really good EBM these days, what with all the aggro-tech/noise/screamo/what-have-you dominating the scene. This is probably why it took me a year and a half before coming across Fest der Liebe by Herzschlag, released in mid-2009. Metropolis Records is also becoming tougher to predict as their catalog grows (600+ albums now!), so I expected some synth-pop along the lines of Melotron - I mean c'mon, there's a bleeding heart on the cover, right? I bought it on a whim anyway.

Fest der Liebe ended up surprising me in a major way. Aside from an opening ambient track (nice tribute, as EBM bands used to do this all the time), the album is chock-full of pounding beats, intelligent sequencing, simple melodies, and - best of all - lovely distorted German vocals that brought me back to the heyday of DAF and Oomph! As it turns out, Herzschlag is the electro project of Matthias Ewald, perhaps better known as the frontman of noise act Shnarph, and it's quite clear that he knows how to put together solid adrenalizing dancefloor EBM.

The music of Herzschlag isn't anything new, but it's put together professionally; Kolja Trelle, better known as Soman, did the mastering, and he's tweaked the sound to maximum effect. Some may call Herzschlag repetitive, and it is, but so was much of the scene back when it was new. It was about engaging energy, and Fest der Liebe is a wonderful throwback to that era. Ewald doesn't try too hard, eschewing programming trickery in favor of tracks that urge you to action. If the title track's opening synth barrage doesn't get you moving, you're dead, pure and simple. The repeating lyrics of "Alles Luge" are a 21st-century homage to DAF, and "Steh Auf!" pushes all the right buttons as it slows the tempo. There's just enough melody to separate the tracks and keep them interesting, and the album doesn't overstay its welcome either; at 44 minutes, it's long enough to keep your blood pumping without dulling the rush. Ewald also injects just enough atmosphere to give the music extra life without drowning the momentum, providing deft touches to engage your heart as your body is driven by the rhythms. I haven't yet translated all the lyrics, but they appear more personal and profound than what passes for the genre norm these days. Despite the album's seemingly superficial nature, Ewald has approached this project with a lot of thought and care; the album is fine-tuned to work as a whole, but each track also stands alone. It's the kind of sound you'll turn to when the EBM Commando mood strikes - dark and energetic without being too heavy or evil - and it satisfies the urge with ease every time.

It'll be very interesting to see where Ewald takes Herzschlag next. Assuming it wasn't a one-off, I'm all for more of the same. Fest der Liebe might be a one-trick pony, but what an awesome old-school trick it is. If you're a genre veteran like me who's been pining for the golden age of EBM, wondering where bands like Concrete Nature, Seven Trees, and Bigod 20 have gone, or if you just want to hear old-school EBM done right, Herzschlag is required listening.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sounds like a bit of old Rammstein and Suicide Commando, October 4, 2009

By 

E. Anderson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fest der Liebe (Audio CD)

Earlier this week I came across the German industrial band Herzschlag on youtube. The song I had heard was track two "fest der liebe", the title track to the mysterious German band's debut album on Metropolis Records. I immediately loved what I had heard. I was reminded of old Rammstein with its corrosive dance beats and Suicide Commando with the distorted vocals. I knew I had to buy the album this weekend which I did. I have been listening to Fest der Liebe non stop. All of the ten tracks on the album are sung in German. The band (who remains a mystery) successfully combines pop-friendly hooks with aggressive, course dance beats. As a huge fan of aggrotech/terror EBM, Fest de Liebe is right up my alley. The music very aggressive without sacrificing any melodies. While I think all of the songs are awesome, I will admit that the songs do tend to sound the same after awhile. Overall I do love the album. I also love the fact that it is a complete mystery who the band is or maybe it is just one person.