Release Date: May 9, 2025
Label: 7hard (7Us Media Group)
Genre: Nitrocore (described by the band as “Hardcore trifft auf glühenden Metal” – Hardcore meets glowing Metal) / Neue Deutsche Härte (New German Hardness)
Duration: 51 minutes
Line Up:
Dirk Jeblick (Dirk J.) – Lead vocals (formerly of EX-PLIZIT)
Gunther Schroth – Guitar (formerly of ASTRUM ET ABYSSUM)
Ralf Henkelmann – Guitar (formerly of ASTRUM ET ABYSSUM)
Hajo Kornalewskis – Bass (formerly of ASTRUM ET ABYSSUM)
Jürgen “Jack” Stephans – Drums (formerly of ASTRUM ET ABYSSUM)
Tracklist:
Verschüttete Träume
Ruf der Freiheit
Netzjunkie
Hey Du
Mein Leben
Vendetta
In Flammen (title track)
Psychopath 2
Jack The Ripper
Dunkelheit
In Dir
Heute Nacht
Das Tier
By pioneering nitrocore—their unique fusion of metal and hardcore—Nitro-X delivers what feels like Rage with a more hardcore edge, which works brilliantly since I’m quite fond of Rage, and frankly, who can resist the raw energy of a well-executed hardcore performance?
After the breakout success of singles ‘Heute Nacht‘, ‘Jack The Ripper‘, and ‘Das Tier‘—tracks that racked up impressive streaming and download figures, pulling in tens of thousands of plays—NITRO-X has established themselves as the leading act in Neue Deutsche Härte (roughly meaning New German Hardness). When I researched this term online, I may have opened a can of worms, as “new German hardness” sent me down an unexpected rabbit hole. My thanks to Klaus for broadening my horizons to… well, let’s move on!
Returning to the music itself: these 13 hardcore-metal hybrids truly shine when cranked up loud (though to be honest, what music doesn’t?), but hardcore specifically craves volume, so push your sound system to its limits to capture that authentic sweaty club atmosphere at home.
Running 51 minutes, this album stretches well beyond typical hardcore releases, which usually clock in at half that duration. However, the band clearly had the material—every track delivers without any padding, resulting in a relentless barrage of German music that desperately needs English translations since I’m completely lost lyrically. That hasn’t prevented me from stomping around in my Doc Martens though, much to my wife’s irritation!
Ratings: 8/10
Reviewed by Adrian Hextall
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