All posts by vladkraykulla

Active member of alternative underground scene and culture since early 1990-ies. Underground is a way of life!
Reviews, Various

(review) Rammstein – Zeit

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Germany´s Rammstein are back with new full length opus. This time, they offer eleven songs of their trademark industrial metal. But, this is just basic description of their music. Rammstein is only Rammstein and can not be accurately described. There is metal, there is industrial, there is Laibach, there is goth and punk in their song structures. This opus is very melodic and the songs are very atmospheric with couple of typical Rammstein straightforward anthems to attack the speakers like Zick Zack or Angst. But, there are couple of more atmospheric almost ballad songs on this one that make your skin crawl with pleasure like Zeit or Meine Traenen. Lyrics are again top, pure poetry but one can relate to between the lines, I know German so I am so happy to be able to understand what Rammstein sing about on this opus. Rammstein also sarcastically criticize modern world with Dicke Titten tongue in cheek song but containing bitter reality in itself. This is not their best album for me, but in top three of four definitely. Great one.

8/10

News, Various

Between Bodies back with new emo punk single & video

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Emo-Punk German band Between Bodies share the first song since their debut EP „On Fences“  in 2019. It’s an emotional song about one’s own inadequacy to fundamentally and seriously change things.

Between Bodies hail from Cologne, Paderborn and Toronto. With their sound, which is heavily influenced by emo-punk bands from the 00s and early 2010s, the band quickly won a place in the hearts of a group of core fans. With the new song, Between Bodies are beginning a new chapter.

“In the past, I’ve often been unable to come to terms with being hurt by people I care about without ending the relationship,” explains singer and guitarist Christopher Schmidt, “trying to reflect every detail over and over again, analyzing problems and failing to do more than just talk. ‘Lucifer, I Wanna Be Everything’ is a song about one’s own inadequacy to really fundamentally and seriously change such behaviors. Getting a grip on feelings and habitual behavior is difficult. Really changing behaviors is even harder and I have the utmost respect for those who succeed,” he continues.

As for so many bands, the pandemic has had a major impact on Between Bodies’ creative work. Over the past two years, the band has used the time during numerous lockdown nights to tinker with new music using Dropbox folders and in Zoom sessions. A big challenge for everyone involved, as the band only released their very first songs shortly before the pandemic began and just managed to play a few concerts. A little over two years later, “Lucifer, I Wanna Be Everything” is the kick-off for much more to come.

Follow the band on: Spotify | Deezer | Facebook | Instagram

movie, Reviews, Various

(movie) Witchhammer(1970) aka Kladivo na carodejnice

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Czech or Czechoslovakian cinematography is one of the mightiest in mid Europe, with so many great movies, directors and stories coming out through the history and decades of movie making. I ran into this one the other day, so it was time for me to see it. This movie, directed by Otakar Vavra, based on the novel by Vaclav Kaplicky is a daring and at moments disturbing ode to witch hunting histeria in black and white.

The story revolves around an inquisitor Boblig who is summoned to a town to investigate alleged witches and with time he becomes more and more obssessed with extermination and torturing of innocent women. Some of the noble town folks try to confront him and resist, but will it be enough to stop the overall madness? What I must say, that this movie left a remarkable impact on me. There is a lot of nudity and naked female bodies in this one for a time it was made, back behind the iron curtain and communism was still ruling this land. Acting is superb, madness and histeria is depicted with precision and there are couple of really disturbing and sad scenes in the movie, knowing how many women were persecuted, tortured and executed with no reason in the 1600s when this movie takes place. The ending is quite poetic but dark as is overall atmosphere and vibe of this movie jewel of Euro cinematography. Go see this one!

8/10