Album Review: Untouchable - Blessing and Curse

Presenting for the tenth anniversary of the band «Inviolable«, the German punk rockers from South Tyrol, with their latest album «curse & blessing», a disc with which they don't have to hide in spite of diverse competition. This is now their fifth album, which will be released in time for the band's 10th anniversary. From the first song ("Aus dem Nebel") to the end, the album is a success. "Untouchable" and "Curse and blessing" offer a good mix of punk and German rock, known from the house of Rookies & Kings.

To be honest, I've only played a few songs here and there from «Inviolable" heard. Now is the perfect opportunity to get your own impression of the band with the new album. The disc ran through my ears at least 40 times prior to this review because I just couldn't get it out of my head. "Untouchable" are not copiers of "Frei.Wild", even if they have a lot in common with the band on a musical and geographical level. What I can't quite share about «Untouchable» is the genre description. Their style is punk rock in a way and the riffs and chords have a lot to do with the genre, but lyrically the guys prefer it a lot more than what is usually known as punk rock. Here we look into the soul and speak from it. This is not about drinking or crass political statements, this is about real life.

Singer Joggl has that certain smoky voice that really underscores every song. Even the opener «Aus dem Nebel» has a decent pace. Purely musically with a little "Betontod" list, the "Toten Hosen" in the undergrowth and slight "Dritte Wahl" nuances, a skilful start that makes you want more songs. "Auf dich, auf mich" features fast riffs and a catchy chorus that catches your ear and stays there. This song is about friendship and the ups and downs in life that you go through together. «Forever mine» is about the eternal love for tattoos. While getting a tattoo can be painful, it is the only true love that never betrays and lasts forever. This song is the first single with video, which was released on May 1st this year and is represented again as a ballad at the end of the album.

Inviolable - Forever Mine [official video]

"I've lived" is a somewhat quieter song that, as the title suggests, is about saying goodbye. Frontman Joggl's throat-smoky voice, marked by life, comes into its own here and gives the song that "certain something". The acoustic guitars together with Joggl's voice result in an indescribable feeling. The song builds up more and more and at the end there are even a few choirs. With «Against the Current» things get down to business with a little more dirt under their nails, despite the smoothing melody lines. In «Untouchable» the kind of rebellion somehow sounds too undecided to me, between the melodic construct of Toten Hosen or slight «Third Choice» influences. At concerts, the song will definitely encourage one or the other to pogo and is felt to be the fastest played song and also the shortest on the entire record. «Dein Stein» keeps the pace, but is one of those songs that don't stay in your head forever. There are just stronger tracks on the CD.

At «Run!» I finally realize who Joggl's throat-heavy voice reminds me of: the German dubbing voice of ALF, that is Tommi Piper, who could have been the vocal godfather here. At «Run!» it's an uplifting song. Even if there are often defeats in life, you should not run away from them, but always see the positive in life and thus face your fears and fears, even if it is often not very easy. «No end in sight» is an ode to friendship. A brisk track, but one would have wished for a little bit of variety. Somehow you start to get the impression that the riffs are very similar. With "Bomben vom Himmel" hope breaks out of the fog again, not only thematically but also musically! Here the potential highlights of "Untouchable" flash through. Full of drive, solos and attitude, despite melodic arches. It's nice that the drive doesn't get lost afterwards with "We stay standing". This song was arranged in a varied way and is a good, snappy encourager.

The acoustic piano version of «Forever mine», which was already heard in the rock version, is now being played and it seems obvious to me where the strengths of this band lie. Oddly enough, the lyrics come across much better here. There is nothing to complain about in this version, on the contrary, here it really flows wafer-thin and gives you goosebumps. It's now heading towards the end of the album and "Losing or Governing" would have been wonderful in the middle of the album. A song that is socially critical and tries to show how some politicians think and try to enforce their ideologies. "Your life!" is a powerful song that comes with a lot of content on a musical and lyrical level. But there is still a small bonus track, the light-switching «Kampf mit uns (Special Version)» scores again. Above all, the female singing part complements the voice of Joggl wonderfully. A worthy conclusion!

Musically, "Untouchable" offer typical German rock without surprises and deliver driving punk songs, ballads and rock numbers with their new record "Fluch und Segen". The concept sounds like "Böhse Onkelz" and that's exactly the clientele you want to serve. Lyrically, the tried and tested is used and therefore everything revolves around love, tattoos, friendships, war or even the failure of the heads at the top. However, there is no concrete discussion of the themes mentioned and what is left are vague texts that accompany the music. The opener «Aus dem Nebel» supposedly cleans up with one's own hooligan and nationalistic past, but unfortunately this happens with the vocabulary from that very scene. But the band understands their craft and creates neatly arranged numbers that are also catchy. What remains is an average piece of punk rock that delivers nothing new. Just the right thing for bourgeois punks and if you like songs with powerful riffs, good solos, fast drums and a smoky voice, you should get "Blessing or Curse". Anyone who still thinks "Die Toten Hosen" is politically explosive is welcome to access it, as is the "Frei.Wild fan".

You can do the album buy in our shop.

Tracklist:

1. From the fog
2. On you, on me
3. Forever My
4. I've lived
5. Against the current
6. Your stone
7. Run!
8. No end in sight
9. Bombs from the sky
10. We stand still
11. Forever Mine (Ballad)
12. Lose or rule
13. Your life!
14. Fight With Us (Special Version)

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