Album Review: Vicious Cycle - Traces of the Past

The band "Teufelskreis» from Vienna have been up to mischief mainly in Austria since 2008 and released three albums on their own. The band should already be known to some from joint performances with "Megaherz" or "Eisregen". With «Traces of the Past», the heavy rockers are reissuing their self-published debut album in 2009. A good idea in itself, since you can approach a band that has existed for some time as if it were “virginally”. The album was released in 2009 and was, of course, long out of print. About the label NRT Records the disc is now coming out again and if you compare the record with the album «Lust Frust», which was also reissued, you quickly realize that «Spuren der Historische» is much more metallic than the successor.

Sometime in 2008 Friedl Schütz, known from «Sunterra», founded a new band called «Teufelskreis«. In 2009 this first opus was self-distributed and, as mentioned, has now been reissued. The album by the dark rockers offers a concentrated mixture of new German hardness, heavy rock and metal and laid the foundation for everything that was to define the band in the years to come. The CD contains a total of 10 songs plus bonus material such as a radio version and a remix with heavy beats. While "Traces of the Past" has few highlights, it delivers a decent performance throughout. Here you have completely avoided elaborate flourishes and it seems as if you have expanded the very text-heavy basis in order to build the Hard Rock songs partly rhythmically and partly melodically around it. The German-language lyrics are partly socially critical and partly taken from real life, so the Viennese clearly show emotion without becoming kitschy.

The first song of the album "Zerrissen" has the same effect on me as the title suggests. The feeling behind it is conveyed well and with Ronny Platzer, «Teufelskreis» have the rock voice par excellence on the mic. His singing goes to your bones. Even the guitar solos by Friedl Schütz pull the listener along and the song is literally pounded into the brain by the rich drums. "Leben" is no less quiet and comes along without an introduction, because here the band immediately steps on the gas again. The song convinces with a great refrain that has a sing-along character. The keyboards used make the whole thing appear dark and the song has a certain groove and pounding beats. The song "Verloren" comes across a bit weaker at the beginning and doesn't really want to ignite at first. Somehow the number seems unfinished. But it doesn't matter, because in the chorus the band catches up again and in the middle, they really step on the gas again. More and more, I have to remember «Oomph!» with the band. or think «Rammstein». This doesn't mean that "Teufelskreis" are a cheap copy of these greats, "Teufelskreis" certainly bear some resemblance to these bands, but their own identity is essential to them.

Vicious circle - jealousy (high quality)

In my opinion, the track «Jeifersucht» is the best number on this album. All the work was done musically. A song as it should be. Melodies, riffs and implementation just fit together great and the lyrics also tell a story that actually happens to many people. With «Gefang» we get a decent heavy groove and the chorus is just strong. The hook, on the other hand, seems a bit spasmodic, but introduces the wide-legged refrain and so "Gefangt" can save itself, but lags a little behind compared to "Jealousy". "A Life Long" continues rock hard and "Losing Game" exudes a certain flair but has been built on the same riff for a little too long. The sound seems a bit long-winded and doesn't quite score points in view of the arrangement, but in view of the lyrics it does. The obligatory ballad is «Im Face», which denounces physical violence against children, wars and hardship. But not in an embarrassing way, but simply speaking the truth. The shallow side of the track deviates from the usual heaviness from the middle of the song and thus becomes a power ballad with an earworm character.

With "Schein Tod" "Teufelskreis" really step on the gas again and with an energy that goes to the core. Once again the lyrics are really good and just convey everything believably. The song "Over" describes the end of a relationship between two people. This song is a heavy song at its best and there is nothing to complain about the lyrics either. The track rocks and is a good exit from the debut work of the Viennese combo. The radio edit of the bonus track "Eifsucht" is a somewhat shortened version of the title mentioned above, and the dance remix of "Ein Leben Lang" will be left as it is and is certainly more for clubs. "Traces of the Past" just kicks ass, even if not all of the songs reach the same high standard, one can still speak of a rousing album, because at least every second number draws attention again. Sometimes the lyrics grab you, sometimes a riff. "Teufelskreis" are far less common in 2009 than the next record. Of course that also means a less pronounced identity, but the trademark of the band is mainly the singing and that leaves its mark powerfully.

DEVIL'S CIRCLE - Life

"Traces of the Past" is the band's best album in my opinion. Here they just wanted to make music that had a certain artistic quality and they succeeded. There are no frills and there is no need to fear too many style experiments here. Themes such as questioning one's own fate and the hopelessness of the situation resonate noticeably through the entire album. Each song manages to transport the respective feeling, but the songs seem a little too uniform despite the in-depth choruses and lyrics - or maybe because of it. I would have liked a little more variety in the song structure, although I have to admit that something really sticks. "Teufelskreis" deliver a solid German-speaking disc with "Spuren der Zeiten", which is recommended for metal fans, German rock fans, heavy fans in general and also fans of the Neue Deutsche Härte. Especially friends of bands like "Rammstein", "Megaherz", "Oomph!" and to a certain extent "icebreakers" will also be happy. The few weak moments are forgivable and even traditional Metal fans should give the guys a listen!

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Tracklist:

1. Torn
2. live
3. Lost
4. jealousy
5. Captured
6. A life long
7. Lost game
8. In the face
9. Sham death
10. vorbei
11. Jealousy (Radio Edit)
12. For a Lifetime (Dance Remix)

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