Endzustand – Werk Des Krieges (Album – Echozone)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: EBM and Other Dark-Electronic bands have been often inspired by war, battles, soldiers and related themes. Ralf Rönckendorf went into war and on a mission in Afghanistan back in 2010 he lost some of comrades and got a severe eyesight injury. Back in time Ralf was already interested in EBM, but Endzustand (translated Final Condition) became his own project and probably a way to exorcise all the horror from war.
Content: “Werk Des Krieges” features 11 songs, which are clearly driven by good-old EBM mainly reminding me of DAF. From the very first sequences and typical dry bass lines you recognize what this is all about: retro-EBM without compromises! The songs have been sung in German and have something pretty commanding. The composition is rather simplistic, but that’s what we’re used to hearing from this music genre.
+ + + : The production is raw and unpolished clearly reminding me of the early DAF years, but still evoking 90s productions in the genre. The opening cut “Vaterland” is driven by military cadence and creates a great match with the harsh EBM. “Hass”, which has been released as a single is for sure one of the best cuts from the work; it’s not that different in style and format, but it has something extra. If you like this kind of old-school EBM you for sure are going to like this work, which is composed by good-old analogue gear.
– – – : I think that some songs could have been a little bit more elaborated. There’s less diversity between the songs while the production of the vocals could be a little less improved as well.
Conclusion: “Werk Des Krieges” is an honest debut work, but I’m sure this artist is able to improve and polish some elements of his work. It however is an interesting new formation in the old-school EBM troops.
Best songs: “Hass”, “Aufschrei”, “Vaterland”, “Roter Freitag”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/Endzustand-113743810414367
Label: www.echozone.de / www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
