Review DONOTS “Schwert aus Holz”

Alternative rock with a punk attitude — that’s Donots for more than 30 years. The band premiered in 1994 and has released numerous albums. To celebrate three decades of Donots, the band played shows in 2024. Some took place in smaller clubs, while others happened in bigger venues. All were sweaty and featured excellent music from an enthusiastic band.

These days, the Ibbenbüren, Germany-based band is launching their next album, which is a special one as “Schwert aus Holz” features 13 songs that cover the band’s musical career. The special thing is not just the album itself, but also the acoustic versions of blasting rock songs.

After performing a few acoustic shows in early 2025, the band recorded some of their greatest songs, proving that acoustic doesn’t mean campfire romance. The opener, “Allein zu allein,” is a powerful start to the album, creating an appetite for more with its dynamic nature. Such an album would not be complete without some guest appearances, and Donots has included this feature. The first guest can be heard on “Dead Man Walking.” The song is from “The Long Way Home,” and Chuck Ragan adds vocals to this new interpretation, which maintains the spirit of the original while sounding rougher.

The Donots have never been a one-hit wonder, but it was “What Happened to the ’80s” that acted as a springboard for the band. This milestone track is also featured on “Schwert aus Holz.” The band’s more recent era is represented by the emotionally charged “Keiner kommt hier lebend raus” and “Augen sehen,” another touching performance on “Schwert aus Holz.” The groovy “Stop the Clocks” doesn’t deviate much from the original, but it gets a new twist with Campino and Matt Hensley joining the band for this song.

The thumping “Wake the Dogs” is a great song that brings to mind The Clash, and it’s a real highlight of this album. Each of the 13 tracks has a rebellious spirit, sparking songs like “Problem Keiner Problem” and “Calling,” the latter of which has a strong reggae vibe and is quite different from what we know from “The Long Way Home.” With “Out in the Cold” and “So Long,” we have reached the final two chapters of this superb album.

As mentioned earlier, acoustic doesn’t mean silent. “Schwert aus Holz” is a well-crafted musical treat that showcases the band’s musical achievements in a slightly new setup. From soulful and fragile moments to pounding rock songs and reggae grooves, this release explains why the Donots have become one of the most important and influential bands from Germany. These five guys have been following their musical vision for more than three decades and a consistent lineup has played an important role in helping the band grow. A musical vision and a rebellious spirit make the Donots an authentic band that evokes emotion. They never adjusted their compass toward commercial trends, which is what made them such a successful band. These guys rock, and hopefully they will continue to do so for another 30 years.