The Hirsch Effekt
Der Brauch
Long Branch Records
Trying to pin a label on Germany’s The Hirsch Effekt is a thankless task and one doomed to failure, and not even a broad umbrella term such as “progressive metal” is wide enough to do them justice. Like some shapeshifting alien life force, their career has been defined by constant evolution with the band refining their sound, shedding dead skin and taking on new form as they traverse. Latest album, Der Brauch, is indicative of this and listening to the nine tracks which comprise their latest effort is not unlike undertaking an epic quest with the band leading the listener through a series of vivid soundscapes. The Hirsch Effekt are trio of musicians who have that rare ability which makes their music three-dimensional; songs such as ‘Das Sell’ aren’t things which are passively received, rather they are experienced, with tone and timbre resonating in subtle (and not so subtle) ways. There is a constant push and pull between sonic denseness and moments of serene beauty which ensures things never become staid and keeps The Hirsch Effekt in perpetual motion. A marker upon an amazing odyssey, The Hirsch Effekt might not quite know where they’re going, but Der Brauch suggests they’ll get there in style.
https://www.facebook.com/thehirscheffekt
Review by Peter Dennis.