After being a fan of Hans Gruber and the Die Hards for over five years now, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Most of their unpredictability manifests during their live performances. They can get a crowd to do squats for an entire song, have a sock puppet sing-a-long, or a start conga line that loops through the entire venue.
The Die Hards aren’t shy about forging their own paths and being uniquely themselves. But I never anticipated a self-released full-length album on my Hans Gruber BINGO card. I simply didn’t think they got off the road long enough to get into the studio. Well, with today’s release of Or Hans Gruber and the Die Hards, the unexpected happened again.
Or Hans Gruber and the Die Hards showcases the evolution of one ska core’s best bands.
Their music has always been so dynamic and interesting to me, but this album hits a bit differently than previous efforts. Knowing the group’s history and ethos, this album is the first time their vision has been fully realized. Produced by Drew LeClair at Dogstar Studios in Austin, TX, the music delivers controlled chaos for imperfect times.
The band isn’t shy about pulling back the curtains about how corrupt and unequal our society truly is. “Everybody Wants To Be Oppressed” takes aim at superficial outrage while ignoring the real problem issues that plague society. “Pay Your Tolls,” the spiritual successor to “Let’s Drive Everywhere,” offers a sarcastically satirical viewpoint on our transportation system.
The Die Hards are more of a collective, a vast cast of characters who lend their talents to the whole of the project. The album features upwards of thirty artists on this album, including members of Cali ska punk band The Odd Advantage. Everything and everyone blended so well while still retaining the band’s sound.
Technically a ska core band, pinning Hans Gruber and the Die Hards to one genre doesn’t do them justice.
Kurt and Rosey lead the attack with a powerful one-two punch as the primary lyricists, vocalists, and horn players. I also hear punk, hardcore, metal, Romani-inspired folk, Celtic punk, shanties, organ-driven ska music, and cumbia. If you’re new to the group, imagine what it would sound like if Blue Meanies, La Dispute, and Mr. Bungle made music together.
That’s the closest I can get to describing their sound, but that still doesn’t cover it all. In fact, the song called “Throwdown” showcases Rosey in a new light as pop-punk vocalist. With a group of artists this talented, I will probably pick something up new each time I listen to the record.
The album is equal parts enjoyable and challenging.
When I say challenging, I mean that in the most positive form of the word. They want the listener to be a part of the solution, which can be hard sometimes. The band has laid out their politics for all to hear. They use satire, sarcasm, and eccentricity to shine spotlights on the dark spots of our society. So, we have the choice of being the people from “Everybody Wants To Be Oppressed” or being part of the change we want to see in the world. I choose to be part of the change. Hans Gruber and the Die Hards will be my soundtrack while doing my part to make this world a better place.
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