Engst

After taking part in the show "Die Band",[1] in which Alexander Köhler, Tim Eden, and Yuri Cernovolov also competed at the time, the winner, Matthias Engst, decided against the major label contract and against further cooperation with the cast band "Van Royals",[2] and chose to form his own band according to his ideas instead. The band Engst was founded in 2015 by Matthias Engst, Yuri Ceronovolov, Alexander Köhler, Ramin Tehrani, Tim Eden, Kevin Heidenreich and Thommy Haine. After a year of finding the band and several small concerts, Tim Eden left the band. The bands self-produced music videos and the first namesake EP ENGST. Shortly thereafter, Kevin Heidenreich left ENGST. The band decided to continue on with just one guitar.

After the band Engst had rejected offers from major labels in order to be able to continue to go their own way, they managed to get in touch with the indie record company Arising Empire[3] though the band Massendefekt.[4] Arising Empire signed the band in November 2017. In December 2017 the EP ENGST was re-released under Arising Empire. The first support tour with Serum 114 followed. In spring 2018 the band went into the studio and recorded their debut album. The album Flächenbrand was released on October 26, 2018.[5] Shortly thereafter, Alexander Köhler left and was replaced by Chris Wendel. Support tours with Massendefekt, Betontod and Rogers followed through 2018 and 2019.

At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, the band Engst played their first headliner tours through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. At the end of 2020, the band released their second album Brave New World, which reached number 20 in the German album charts. The EP Vier Gesichter with five songs was released in 2021. In the summer of 2022, the band played their third headliner tour with the Schöne Neue Sommer Tour.

Catchy texts and melodies are mostly used, so that the tendencies towards punk rock or rock music are clearly recognizable.[6] Nevertheless, the musical style itself could not be completely classified into a certain genre. Since almost all musicians had previously played in punk bands or at least had experience with punk music,[7] corresponding elements are also used, as in some critics encountered confrontational lyrics and social criticism in songs. In terms of content, the band often expressed their clear opinion on certain topics with their lyrics, whether it is with the song Raketen auf Spatzen, in which Engst is directed against right-wing extremism, fascism, and xenophobia (which as a "permanent topic"[8] within the band) or with the song Optimisten, in which the emotionally cold society fixed on technology is criticized.

For Matthias Engst, his own past is also illuminated in the texts, including his reckoning in "Ein Sommer in den Charts" with the concept of music talent shows, which he experienced with "Die Band", and the fast-moving and entertaining profit business in the music business.[9] But also common topics such as love, friendship, separation, and memories of one's own youth, play an important role in Engst's Es Ist Mir Egal, Träumer und Helden, and Zur Freundschaft. Since the group could not be classified into a music genre with a clear result, it is also difficult to find bands with a similar style. Engst often plays music that is too soft to resemble punk rock bands like the Rogers,[6] but on the other hand, the band's fast, rock-sounding songs also don't leave any major parallels, such as to Johannes Oerding or to Max Giesinger.[6] The most frequent comparisons are drawn to Massendefekt, since the German rock music played and pop punk are similar in some places.[10]

Ultimately, the severity of the description of the musical style is a result of Engst consciously not wanting to make a decision in this regard. Last but not least, frontman Matthias Engst emphasizes this in his statement "not wanting to become a music police officer, but to be open to everything". .

Self-determination and freedom are the top priorities for the Engst band members, especially when it comes to music. The musicians want to continue to do without prescribed texts or compositions in order to be able to make music according to their own ideas. [8] They sought to remain close to the audience and remain grounded. A figurehead for this is Matthias Engst, who, in addition to his job as a musician, also works part-time as a social worker.[8] What is also often emphasized at the concerts is a clear distancing against any kind of xenophobia, racism, fascism, and discrimination. Engst also criticizes the influence on the above-mentioned stereotypes of right-wing parties. Despite this attitude, the group does not want to be seen as a "political band", but they want and will continue to express their own opinions via the music platform and point out political and social grievances.[3]

• Official Engst Shop
• Official Engst Instagram
• Official Engst Facebook
• Engst on Spotify
• Engst discography at Discogs