Dark synthpunk band Die Anstalt has risen from Berlin’s underground to reissue their first album Die Anstalt via City Slang. Unsurprisingly, their first run of the album was limited to 300 vinyl copies that sold out instantly.
This ’80s goth-tinged post-punk album is addictive and gritty like asphalt. Pairs great with skulking in alleyways, sweating at raves, or speeding on a sport bike through the night. Honestly, any and all night moves would work nicely— as long as you are not afraid of the dark.
‘Kalter Schweiss’ means “cold sweat” and I wonder if that’s what this track was made to induce. Imagine losing yourself dancing to this song in an abandoned silo or a dim club at 3 in the morning.
When the bell tolls on the track at 3:02, we get some solo moments of that spaghetti western guitar sound from Jakob Feyerherm. That’s when I knew I would be listening to this on repeat. Ennio Morricone would be proud.
’11. Stock’ is sexy and casually industrial. The percussive elements, arcade-like synth from Feyerherm, and low lurking bass from Emanuele Mattei keep the song seductive and tense all throughout.
Die Anstalt gets compared to fellow darkwave makers Boy Harsher, which makes complete sense. The commanding warmth of Carmen Redeker‘s voice is not unlike the softly fried low vocal of Jae Matthews. Pixel Grip, the band’s Berlinite contemporary UCHE YARA, and French producer Gesaffelstein, also come to mind when hearing this trio’s dark, stern, digital sound.
[On album Die Anstalt] The result is theatrical, confrontational, hypnotic and relentlessly physical, pairing propulsive rhythms with songs that capture generational frustration, political unrest and the surreal absurdities of modern life.
DIE ANSTALT
Now here’s the truth. Do I know German? No. Will that stop me from listening to this killer album again? Also no. Full transparency? This was a vibes-based review. That being said, after spending time with this album, I have learned at least a dozen new words des Deutschen. Now auf auf!
Download + listen to the deluxe reissued Die Anstalt here.
UPCOMING DIE ANSTALT TOUR DATES:
2 October – Hof, DE – Galeriehaus
17 October – Hamburg, DE – M.S. Stubnitz
23 October – Nürnberg, DE – Bunker Rituals Festival IV
19 November – Berlin, DE – SO36
Find Die Anstalt on bandcamp | youtube | instagram | apple music