Band : Eisbrecher
Album title : Eiskalt
Label : AFM Records
Distributor : Rock Inc. – Bertus
Release date : 29/04/2011
Release : Double-disc compilation CD

Four albums into their discography, and German Neue Deutsche Harte band Eisbrecher (their style is a mixing of Metal with Industrial and Gothic elements, the latter accented by the sole use of the German language for the lyrics, and with frequent synths and electronics added) and  is getting a compilation album! Well, don't you believe it was with the band's consent, or even with any pre-knowledge from their part! In fact, rather see this album as a last means to an end for the band's previous label (they're now signed to Columbia/ Sony) to "flog a dead horse". The choice of songs included is therefore quite completely inspired by nothing more than the possible commercial success of the compilation. Still, the material included ain't that bad!

Drawing from all of the band's 4 regular albums (4 songs off 2004's Eisbrecher, 5 off 2006's sophomore album Antikörper, 3 off 2008's Sünde, and even 3 off the band's recent 2010 album Eiszeit), the track-list of the first disc is enhanced with the 2008 German only, single only “Kann denn die Liebe Sünde sein”, making for a total audio time of almost 68 minutes. The second disc includes 2 more songs off the band's most recent album, another track off Antikörper (plus the bonus track off the limited edition of same), plus a total of 8 remixes which were previously only available on singles and limited editions. To top things off there's also the videos to “Eiszeit” and “Vergissmeinnicht” plus an added “Roadmovie”. No idea how much time the video section of disc 2 adds to the nearly 53-minute audio material. For more info on the band's history, surf to its webpage or their page at Wikipedia. For audio/ video material to saviour, the guys have also a Facebook, MySpace and YouTube page!

This may seem like a very short review for my doings, and perhaps one might get the idea that the material the band...sorry, label!...would not be to my personal liking. Well, you better think again...in fact, I'm looking forward to possibly being able the band's upcoming album (no release date announced thus far). A compilation however, means I cannot rate this release...but that don't mean I couldn't possibly put the album in my year-lists, if that fancy should befall me!

Tony.