Album Review: The Hirsch Effekt - Der Brauch
Reviewed by Patrick O'Reilly
The Hirsch Effekt have always been about dichotomy. The dichotomy of light and dark, quiet and loud, soft and heavy, pleasure and pain. This album is maybe their definitive statement on their dual nature, revelling in and celebrating it, and drawing the listener in with this mixture of emotion.
Opening track ‘Der Brauch’ begins with picked melodic guitar and soft vocals, a folky, classical introduction which leads into a monstrous riff that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Paradise Lost album. The effect is jarring and brings the album to life, a great introduction to band and album.
The rest of the album thrives on this duality, melody abounds but so too does harsh dissonant riffs and almost thrashy sections, placed side by side in such a deliberate way they seem to gain more power, highlighted by their vast difference to previous sections.
As always with this band the musicianship is supreme and the production crystal clear. Every bass note throbs whilst intricate guitar sections are free to breathe and grow. This is a supremely confident album of progressive, emotional rock, made by musicians who know how to invoke atmosphere both light and dark. A triumphant journey in musical form, one that is dangerous, memorable and, above all, worth taking.
