Saufknast – EP I
Eight gritty, fast-paced tracks that unflinchingly tackle life's darker themes.
Saufknast, the latest troublemakers from Germany, with members split between Hamburg and Kiel, enter the punk underground with their debut EP. Released on 7-inch vinyl by Contraszt! Records and on cassette through Berlin’s lo-fi punk label Flennen, this eight-track record is a blunt, unapologetic dive into the band’s dark and reverberating sound.
Recorded in their rehearsal room, each track, ranging from one to one and a half minutes, is a short, sharp burst of energy. High-pitched, reverb-drenched vocals stand out against a backdrop of raw, garage-punk influenced guitars. As someone who’s usually not swayed by the garage sound, I’ve got to say, Saufknast rips through that genre with enough aggression to keep you on your toes. They maintain the rough edge of hardcore punk without losing momentum. The occasional flying guitar solos break up the potential monotony and keep each track distinct and engaging.
Lyrically, Saufknast explore the grim realities of life. “Tränengas” sets the stage with its take on despair and emotional numbness. “Samenstau” is about frustration and pent-up aggression, using vivid color imagery. “Halt mich fest” shifts to themes of inner struggle and turmoil, highlighting the need for connection amidst the world’s chaos. “Bullenstaat” is a defiant statement against authority, particularly police brutality and state repression, resonating with punk’s deep-seated political anger. “Dreck” is brimming with unrelenting aggression and confrontational attitude, while “Lacksaufen” explores self-destruction. “Taubenfresser” offers a grim depiction of urban survival on the fringes of society, and the EP concludes with “Blank”, which reflects on despair, poverty and economic disparity.
The EP resonates with the kind of stuff you’d find among the Spanish-speaking, female-fronted bands from the US, Spain and South America. However, the EP is firmly rooted in German soil, both through the lyrics and the labels involved. If you’re looking for something that embodies the wild and chaotic spirit of hardcore punk with a garage twist and reverberating lo-fi production, this German band will undoubtedly deliver.
