Abrichten – aufheben CS (It’s Eleven Records)

As the global trajectory continues its slow, bizarre descent into societal decay in 2026, it is easy to feel entirely detached from the world. For those operating outside the margins of high society, plugging in and turning the amplifiers up to the point of structural failure remains one of the few valid forms of retaliation. Embodying this exact spirit of relentless, high-volume pushback is the German outfit Abrichten, a band that has spent the better part of a decade perfecting its uniquely abrasive craft. Despite navigating the inevitable lineup shifts that come with surviving in the independent scene for over a decade, their artistic compass has remained remarkably true to its original north. Now, the band has returned to deliver their fourth overall studio effort, aufheben, an artfully designed physical cassette tape issued through the dedicated purveyors of underground sounds at It’s Eleven Records. To truly understand the DNA of aufheben, you have to look at the band’s philosophical approach to modern songwriting. In a contemporary alternative music scene that is frequently bogged down by insufferable preaching, self-pity, and superficial posturing, Abrichten offers a much-needed remedy, an unadulterated, provocative hostility. They actively reject the tired tropes of lecturing their audience, opting instead for a lyrical approach that is cynical, quirky, and thoroughly enraged. There is a palpable sense of provocation in their German-language delivery, a deliberate attempt to ruffle feathers and confront the listener with the uncomfortable realities of modern existence.

The contrast between its combative attitude and careful construction makes this record so remarkable. The resulting aesthetic is inherently antagonistic and highly off-kilter, yet it is arranged with an undeniable level of care and intelligence. Much of this cohesive power is owed to the stellar recording and mixing work executed by Alexander Günther at Studio Tutti in Leipzig-Holzhausen. Günther achieved the monumental task of harnessing the band’s untamed live energy, providing a well-balanced, three-dimensional mix that allows every ounce of the band’s heavy, driving nature to shine without burying the crucial subtleties in a wall of mud. When dissecting the individual mechanics of aufheben, the vocal performance immediately stands out as the primary catalyst for the record’s immense tension. In noise rock, vocals can easily become a secondary thought, utilized merely as another layer of distortion. However, the frontman here commands the spotlight with absolute authority, showcasing a phenomenal and highly physical range. The delivery constantly transforms to fit the mood of the instrumentation, drifting effortlessly from commanding, clean chants to throat-tearing shouts and genuinely threatening screams. When the atmosphere requires a more primal touch, the vocals drop into harsh, visceral grunts. Every single inflection feels completely in tune with the chaotic musical backdrop. The vocalist functions as the maestro of the album’s pacing, instinctively knowing exactly when to pull back and when to unleash total fury, thereby building a suffocating sense of anticipation exactly when the compositions demand it the most.

Musically, the cassette is an absolute goldmine for anyone who appreciates the beautiful collision of post-punk gloom and post-hardcore ferocity. The guitar arrangements on this release are a spectacular display of controlled chaos. The six-string work carries a colossal amount of distortion and fuzz, yet it completely avoids the trap of sounding like formless noise. Because of the thoughtful production and expert playing, you can vividly hear every single chord progression, intricate riff, twisted harmony, and underlying melody. The guitar textures are intentionally obscure and cloaked in darkness, leaning into heavy, angular aesthetics. Yet, underneath the abrasive surface, there is a surprising amount of melodic sensibility. The instrumentations levitate between highly accessible passages and jagged, dissonant freak-outs. It is a highly intelligent approach to noise rock, making sure that the sheer weight of the guitars never compromises the songwriting. Of course, a massive guitar tone requires a rock-solid foundation to keep it from spiraling out of control, and the rhythm section is absolutely crucial to the formula. The bass guitar operates as the pulsing, vital heartbeat of the entire record. It delivers an essential dose of infectious groove, structural power, and immense sonic depth. More importantly, the intricate basslines add a beautiful layer of analog warmth that perfectly counterbalances the cold, biting frequencies of the distorted guitars. It actively binds the chaotic string work directly to the percussive elements, making sure that the tracks remain cohesive and muscular.

Instead of relying on predictable, hyper-speed blast beats, the drummer curates a masterful collection of slow, systematic rhythmic structures and mid-tempo slabs of percussive destruction. The drumming is packed with groove and dynamics, delivering the exact kind of swaggering, heavy beatdowns that the post-punk and noise rock genres demand. Every snare hit and cymbal crash feels planned, dictating the tempo with punishing precision and forcing the listener to physically move to the rhythm. With aufheben, Abrichten has successfully channeled the frustration and skewed reality of our times into a brilliant, highly addictive piece of sonic warfare. It is a masterfully executed record that packs absolutely everything you dearly love about the golden eras of noise rock, post-hardcore, and post-punk into one volatile package. If you consider yourself a dedicated collector of heavy, intelligent, and uncompromised underground music, this cassette is an absolute essential. Do not wait around on this one, head directly to It’s Eleven Records to secure your physical copy of this artfully designed tape. Abrichten has delivered the perfect soundtrack for the end of the world as we know it, and it demands to be played at maximum volume.