We Butter the Bread With Butter have had a busy year in 2013 since their exposure to British metal fans on tour with Scottish post-hardcore group, Yashin in 2012, following up from this with their latest album 'Goldkinder'.
'Goldkinder' released on August 12th in the UK is WBTBWB's first album to take a step away from the constant growl and scream vocals that featured on the previous albums, instead focusing on a more melodic, hardcore sound. Whilst fans of the band may be left wondering why the sound has been taken down a notch, after listening throughout the album it's evident that the band has kept the sound just as powerful. The band have instead polished the sound more then was done on older albums such as that in 'Der Tag an dem die Welt unterging'.
The album starts off with the track 'Alles Was Ich Will', where a raw guitar picks a riff before the band kicks in with a tune that sounds reminiscent of a marching band with balls. Paul Bartzsch's vocals tear through this song with a wide range of high screams to the growls you'd expect from WBTBWB. This eventually leads into a choir-like chorus along with a blending synthesiser that allows 'Alles Was Ich Will' to hook in new listeners and subdue them with their German ways.
Next track on the album that is a clear winner is 'Meine Brille', surprisingly this track was WBTBWB's first playing on BBC Radio, featuring on the Radio 1 playlist. This song starts off with a slow string, synth and drum intro before the heavy guitar ploughs through. The vocals have a creepy edge to them, mixing into the atmosphere prepared in the intro. Marcel Neumann's guitar playing and synthesiser skills however are what gives this track the edge and power it deserves.
One other track that stood out to me was 'Ohne Herz', beginning with a catchy synthesising riff, before the band's clear metal sound push into this song. The keyboard is a important aspect and this is a key factor for how the band have taken a push towards a more melodic and atmospheric element to the album. The lyrics to 'Ohne Herz' are beautiful with lines roughly translating to:
'I would give it to you again but I can not live without a heart.
One breath, come go with me, there's no way back to the last step and I hold you tight.'
The band has therefore taken this album much more seriously compared to previous albums where songs were more comedic and light-hearted, featuring themes such nursery rhymes. It's nice to see how they have developed as both musicians and men when listening to 'Goldkinder'.
The album itself does however last slightly too long for a hardcore album, totalling 51:03, which to new listeners may put off some people midway through the album, however to fans the songs act as a powerful punch to the jaw keeping you on edge. On another edge, whilst this album is still strong, the band do not bring anything incessantly unique to the genre that may push away some potential listeners. This could easily be corrected if the edge of Neumann's keyboard was slightly more exposed with synth solos.
Overall however this album does deliver and stand up on it's own, bringing listeners an enjoyable album that demonstrates a clear step in the right direction for the band. I would rate the album 80%.
KEY TRACKS - 'Alles Was Ich Will', 'Meine Brille', 'Ohne Herz' and 'Fall'
FOR FANS OF - We Came as Romans, Crossfaith, Rammstein, Abandon All Ships.
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