For over two decades, ZSK has been pushing political boundaries; with Feuer & Papier, out September 26th, they aim to raise a flag of hope.
For anyone unfamiliar with the German punk band ZSK, this is the opportunity to change that. Often classified as skatepunk or politipunk, their name is an abbreviation of the German word Zivile Streifenkommando, which loosely translates to Civilian Patrol Command. They have always been a politically motivated band and have worked to make an impact through community acts. These acts include founding the largest youth organization against the right in Germany, KEIN BOCK AUF NAZIS. While most of their songs are almost entirely in German, the vibes and messaging are clear when listening, especially with tracks such as their 2018 song “Make Racists Afraid Again.”
They started in 1997, performing shows at youth and skateboarding spaces. They didn’t record their first album until 2000. From 2000 to 2007, they spent their time opening for bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Social Distortion, and Bad Religion. They then took a pause from 2007-2011 to focus on political objectives. In 2011, they returned, released a new album in 2013, and continued their activism through music. Now, they are back again with their eighth studio album, Feuer & Papier (Fire & Paper), which looks to bring a protest soundtrack for the listeners.
The album opens with “3 Uhr Nachts” (3 o’clock at Night), with a steady beat that is easy to stomp your foot to. This song is what the band calls the friendship anthem. The second song, “Wir Kommen in Deine Stadt” (We’re Coming to Your City), was pre-released on July 31st. It is a fun-sounding song about the good old punk mayhem they promise to bring when they “come to your city, come into your house, throw your TV out the window, and drink your fridge empty.” Next is “So Viel Gutes” (So Much Good), which touches on how the pressure of the world may seem crushing at times. It also reminds us that good moments are possible and that “so much good can still happen to you.”
The title track, “Feuer & Papier,” is a protest anthem to encourage people to keep it up. The lyrics from the song can be summarized as: the actions likely will not save the world, but they might make it more beautiful, so keep it up and never stop! Up next is “Tokyo,” another musically fun song about longing to be somewhere far away that holds a special place in their hearts. Then comes the song “Keine Liebe für Berlin” (No Love for Berlin). This is where they are from, so, of course, there is love for some areas and places. They are also willing to be critical of the social, economic, and tourist problems the capital city faces.
The seventh song, “Vielen Dank” (Thank You), is a short but great song. It is not a traditional thank you but rather a sarcastic thank you to those who send hate their way. The next song, “Nicht Allein” (Not Alone), is musically more melodic than their typical song but still remains light. It also holds an important message; it reminds listeners that, even when they might feel alone, they are not. Up next is “Leuchtraketen” (Flares) was pre-released on September 4th. With the accompanying music video, it sends a powerful message of solidarity with those protesting in the streets. At the same time, it also addresses the hypocrisy of just returning to normal life the next morning like nothing happened. It questions whether some things will actually ever change, while remaining hopeful and suggesting that others also not give up that hope.
The next-to-last song, “Jede Hand” (Every Hand), is another short song at just over two minutes. It is a call to everyone to be ready to show their hands when needed. The last song, “Sommer ohne Nazis” (Summer without Nazis), is more of the type of song we are used to from ZSK. It is planned to be a protest anthem, and it delivers on all accounts. Dance and skank-able music, along with a catchy chorus, is sure to make a great song live while singing along to how nice it would be to celebrate every world without far-right influence.
In summary, Feuer & Papier is not necessarily geared towards bringing everyone to the protests but rather to remember to be kind to one another, as sometimes that goes a long way in closing divides. Their tour also kicks off this week, with dates scheduled in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With this tour, they have opted to visit only six cities with an extra show on those days, earlier in the day, aimed at a child-friendly atmosphere with the PA turned down just a bit. Children will get candy and gifts, and ZSK will get the opportunity to ensure that the punk rock spirit lives on.
Feuer & Papier is set for release on September 26th.
PHOTO BY: Konzertsucht
