Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
The enigmatic smile that growls in the darkness on offer by German band Annisokay throughout their latest album, is nothing compared to the broad all knowing grin they lay out before a live audience, especially an audience that is treated to their performance for the first time ands in a city not noted for its love of the genre.
The world of Metal is one that Liverpool does not have a natural affinity with and yet as the dichotomy of light and shade, the rampaging darkness and the eternal hopeful radiance comes across the shade and shakes hands with the youth of Liverpool inside the 02 Academy, the sense of keen appreciation is felt. Whether as the night has built up, the sense of urgency has become palpable and the unrequited hormonal drive is starting to radiate with divinity or through the twin aspiration of a great set of songs delivered by two very cool vocalists and guitars that squeal as if being played over a forge, is one for the purists to delve their minds in to, all that needs to be truly be known is just how good the sound actually is.
For Dave Grunewald, Christoph Wiezoreck, Philip Kretzschmar, Norbert Rose and Daniel Herrmann, the sound coming through the industrial speakers at the Academy was as good as anything coming out of their native Germany right now; a country that really knows how to look after the future of the genre and has infected that love into the unknown of Scandinavia and beyond in recent years. Perhaps with their excellent performance in the U.K. supporting Fearless Vampire Killers, that sense of metal luminosity will pay dividends over here.
With the band kicking off their set with the tracks Monster Crazy and Fame, that luminosity was shining brighter than the sparks seized off an anvil as the hammer comes crashing down on spiteful revenge. With Day To Day Tragedy, the superb Wolves in the Walls, the gracious Carry Me Away and Sky taking over the hammer duties in turn and reigning fire over the musical anvil, there was so much to enjoy in substantial and grinding motion of five men giving it all on stage and the sense of Time being played with.
As ambassadors of the new breed of German Metal, Annisokay have so much potential, so much drive, that it’s almost believable that money could be found and an excuse found for any aspiring British fan to just head their way and see them perform in front of a home crowd, to soak up the vapour of experience and bring it back home for young British bands to wallow in.
Stirring stuff!
Ian D. Hall