Album Review: option weg - Mehr Bullen mehr Bomben für ein wirklich gutes Leben (2020)

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Picture Credit: option weg
Artwork: Moni Hoffmann

option weg - Mehr Bullen mehr Bomben für ein wirklich gutes Leben
Release Date: September 07, 2020
Label: Elfenart
Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital
Length: 50:16
Genre: Deutschpunk / Folk Punk
Origin: Berlin, Germany

"Mehr Bullen mehr Bomben für ein wirklich gutes Leben" is German for "More Cops, more Bombs for a really good Life". By the title you might already conclude that this is about Punk Rock. But despite the sarcastic album title, option weg do not play Fun Punk. On the contrary! Even though the quartet from Berlin makes use of cynicism here and there, they have a released a highly political, antifascist, feminist and dead serious album. But let's have a closer look.


This is the fourth album by option weg. The band consists of Anja (drums and vocals), Moni (bass, violin and vocals), Steffn (guitar, bass and vocals), and Yok (accordeon, drums and vocals). The quartet plays a refreshing mix of raw Deutschpunk and melodic Folk tunes. The latter are provided by the violin and the accordeon on the one hand, and by many acoustic and half-acoustic parts on the other. But predominantly, "Mehr Bullen mehr Bomben für ein wirklich gutes Leben" is about Punk Rock - honest, antifascist Punk Rock that calls for action.


The lyrics on option weg's fourth long-player are almost completely sang in German. There are some English interjections and the track 'Historia' is Polish. This song is about the cruel genocide on Polish Jews done by the Germans and their collaborators. And option weg do not only narrate about fascism, they also call for action - for antifascist action. The song 'Zurückhaltung' ('Reluctance') for example tells the audience that there is no justification for letting the fascists take over - No pasaran!
The second major theme on "Mehr Bullen mehr Bomben für ein wirklich gutes Leben" is gender equality, feminism and queer identities. Since I recently finished my studies by handing in a thesis about Sexism in Punk Rock, the track 'Amazonen, Suffragetten und Punketten' makes me very happy.


"Mehr Bullen mehr Bomben für ein wirklich gutes Leben" comes either as a CD or an LP with an A5 booklet that contains all the lyrics and some more words and pictures by the bands. The DIY booklet reminds me of Punk Rock fanzines like Provinz Postille and definitely adds to the sympathetic impression this release has on me. The version I received might be a Promo CD. Anyways, the backcover only lists 14 tracks - the song 'Altersarmut' is missing here.
option weg have released a beautiful collection of political and melodic Punk Rock songs. The music is catchy and the lyrics make it obvious that the fight for a better future is by far not won. This is the kind of antifascist and profeminist Protest Folk that I love. And it contains a funny hommage to German Kraut and Protest Rock legends Ton Steine Scherben.

option weg Online:
Homepage
Bandcamp
Spotify

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