Here's another example of how singing in your native language brings out the best when you wish your thoughts as well as emotions to be translated to a public in the best possible way. THE HIRSCH EFFEKT are a German band from Hanover, so their lyrics are in the same language. Is that a problem? Not at all, because, like I mentioned, the way they are delivered is astounding, is just about perfect. As for their musical direction, I will simply call it Alternative Rock/Metal, as you will hear a lot of different styles passing by on a regular basis. That simply means that when you contemplate listening to "Der Brauch" ("The Use"), you have to have a very willing mind to let in a much widened spectrum of musical influences, that vary from slow and serene up to rather fast and intense.

If you have a very adaptable brain matter to help you, I feel that you really might enjoy what THE HIRSCH EFFEKT has to offer on "Der Brauch". This trio of musicians really are able to send you every way musically, without them ever losing sight of what they are trying to say or convey. They has me fooled during my first listens, as I really thought that I was just hearing a lot of crap. But when I really put my mind to what the band is doing, and starting listening with intent, that is when the penny dropped. That is when I realised that this isn't half bad at all.

What does help is that the production and therefore the sound on "Der Brauch" is top notch, which only means that it doesn't matter where the band are heading, you will be able to follow it all in a perfect way, at least sound wise. I'm not saying that the music will all make sense to you, as that is up to how flexible and bendable your brains are as to grant THE HIRSCH EFFEKT full access in order to use (or abuse) them to their fullest. I have to say that with every listen the songs have grown on me, that with every spin of "Der Brauch" I have let them enter a little bit further than the time before. And even if THE HIRSCH EFFEKT will never be my favourite band, and that I will never be able to fully comprehend "Der Brauch", this is a good album from start to finish.