Stahlgeist interview: ‘Justice delivered in beats and fury’
Stahlgeist
Following the revamped release of their debut “Altered Reality”, many fans were left wondering if Stahlgeist would return with fresh material. The wait is now over with the arrival of the “Silence” EP, serving as a powerful teaser to their forthcoming full-length album “Justice” – which you will be able to check out exclusively tomorrow on Side-Line ahead of the official release date on Friday.
In this exclusive interview, the Hungarian duo dive into the themes of rage, judgment, and dystopian decay that fuel their raw, old-school EBM sound. They talk about their musical influences, their creative process, and their plans to bring Stahlgeist to the stage. Expect hard-hitting beats, distorted intensity, and an unapologetic tribute to the genre’s pioneers.
Exploring the essence of Stahlgeist
SL: After the release of the “Altered Reality” revamped version of your debut album, we were all wondering whether Stahlgeist would soon release new material. The new “Justice” album is now announced with the release of this new “Silence” EP. What can the fans expect from it?
Stahlgeist: Hi there! We’ve created a true old-school EBM album, where we aimed to pay tribute to the great pioneers and our personal favorites while showcasing different aspects of the genre.
SL: What are the lyrical themes of your album “Justice”?
Stahlgeist: Human frailty and wickedness creeping into our daily lives, the dystopia breathing down our necks, the longing for righteous judgment, and the all-consuming rage.
SL: Stahlgeist stick to old-school aggressive EBM, evoking a sort of jamming session between an upbeat Front 242 and Leaether Strip’s powerful distorted vocal anger?
Stahlgeist: István has carefully crafted and refined every song — he is The Machine. My lyrics are spewed forth by the spirits born from his sounds, bubbling up from my throat into this distorted and unjust world.
SL: Although the album is quite upbeat and frontal, we also find some more melodic songs evoking body pop music à la And One or more intricate darker experimental cuts à la FLA, Mentallo & The Fixer or yet :Wumpscut:?
Stahlgeist: All of these bands, along with many other fantastic artists, have been with us since our teenage years. With this diverse album, we wanted to pay homage to them as well.
SL: What is fascinating you in the EBM style? And what is Stahlgeist bringing on top to this music movement?
Stahlgeist: Hard, uncompromising beats, dissonant noises that somehow still wrap around you like velvet, and powerful, intense vocals. What do we bring to it? Our heart and soul. Far greater bands have built this road — we’re just trying to maintain and extend it for as long as we can.
SL: Can we expect Stahlgeist live on stage soon?
Stahlgeist: Yes. For now, we have one confirmed show on May 17th in Hungary at Beton in Győr, organized by Kollektíva, where we will present the new album live for the first time. This year, we also plan to focus more on live performances compared to previous years, and festival appearances are in the works. We’re happy to play anywhere — feel free to reach out to us!
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