Until now, there existed only one constant in the working method of the electro-metal men Oomph!: the permanent change. Since their foundation in 1989, Dero (vocals, drums), Crap (guitar, keyboard) and Flux (guitar, sampling) have kept to their resolution; consequently also the new album EGO (meanwhile it is the seventh album) presents unknown and exciting facets of the "Braunschweiger" sound-pioneers. "For me as an artist and man, standstill is a foreign word", frontman Dero emphasizes his aversion to creative as well as private self-satisfaction.
Oomph! have worked on that sound, that helped the band to get their most successful album named PLASTIK (incl. the hit-singles Das weiße Licht and Fieber feat. Nina Hagen), without losing that typical unpolished style. "Of course we dared again a stylistic leap forward", Dero says. "EGO is very varied, regarding the speed but also the vocal flexibility. It is dominated by emotive rising tension."
From the title-song that staggers between manic-harsh self-reflection and melodies, in which that song is full of itself, over the suddenly bursting aggression of Drop The Lie, till the thoughtful but gruesome-lovely Atem - "Oomph! have become more available and get faster to the point", Dero accurately analyses. There is that cool-dragging groove of Bitter (that looks suspiciously like a hit) as well as the supple-gloomy Who Are You. We also find a fantastic composed Rette Mich, the emotive rapidity of Kontrollverlust and the first single Supernova - a song that does not only capitvate by the combination of beautiful piano-parts and powerful guitars. It is also chosen "because nearly nobody would have expected such a single - and that is not only because of the English lyrics", the singer explains. "Regarding the music, this song involves unforeseen and unexpected elements that show us in a new light." Supernova also represents an atmospheric innovation - "a positive fundamental mood is inherent in the new works. A mood one can not only gather from the harmonies but also from the lyrics."
According to the album-title, EGO appears much more intimate than the preceding social-critical albums. Supernova, for example, deals with an affair "that represents quite a peculiar universe for the protagonists", Dero explains. "This track describes the fusion of two persons - I like this idea." The songwriting for EGO started directly following the last gig of the Skunk Anansie European tour with Oomph! as special guest. The trio started to work individually on new ideas. Finally, there were 25 songs to choose from; the 15 most significant and promising ones (incl. two short instrumental songs) were chosen for EGO. The recording and mixing in the band`s ‚Nagelstudio' required two months of work. Also this time, Ooomph! renounced an outstanding producer. As before, only the mastering was let to Ted Jensen. "If you label it ‚Oomph!', there should be nothing but ‚Oomph!' in it", Dero explains his aversion to foreign influences. "The band only works this way. Regarding this, Virgin gave us a free hand. That is exactly why we signed on there at that time."
Nothing is of greater importance to Oomph! but their artistic licence. That is to what they live up on EGO to excess. Regarding the topics, these 15 songs stir up and raise questions; regarding the music, no question remains open. "Everybody should think over his job on every single day", Dero demands. That is exactly what Oomph! did. So they could again come up to their reputation as the most progressive band of German rock music. A scene, losing its bearings, is thirsty for a new input by one of its forerunners. After having listened to EGO, the crucial question is, how many bands actually can follow Oomph!. er - die Frage nach der Hörprobe von EGO ist nur, wieviele Oomph! überhaupt folgen können.
