Review THE OTHER “Alienated”

The new album from Cologne-based horror punks The Other hits the shelves just in time. Five years after releasing “Haunted”, the band returns with “Alienated” and they didn’t choose a usual day for the release, as it is Halloween — what could be a better soundtrack for the day?

“Alienated” harks back to the band’s early days, which may also be due to the return of Andy Only. “Hellfire”, with its addictive chorus, is the start of the album, and there is no doubt that this is a hard-hitting release with melodies that are impossible to forget. The pace doesn’t slow down much with “I Give You the Creeps”, which was also the lead single for “Alienated”. The break in the chorus is a nice twist, and the ‘ohohoh’ part allows for a sing-along.

The songs on “Alienated” have a certain 80s vibe, and “A Ghost From the 80s”, with its keyboard parts, reflects this musically while telling the story of a ghost living on a VHS in a VCR (assuming you know what those abbreviations mean).

The Other always focus on songs with English lyrics, but it has become a tradition for one song to be in German. On their latest release, this tradition continues with the song “Hier sein”. Gothic is also part of The Other’s musical identity, which becomes apparent when listening to the danceable melodies of the title track.

While sticking to the main principles of their horror punk sound, The Other add a wider variety of musical influences to their music. Take the slower, darker, resonant “In the End”, in which frontman Rod Usher showcases the deep part of his vocal range. This is followed by the raging start of “Horror Movie Monster”. The song is generally more of a mid-paced standard, with the chorus leading to excitement.
Regardless of whether it’s the pulsating “The Witch from Outer Space” or the up-tempo “Don’t Be Afraid of the Night”, The Other entertain, and their songs blossom in black immediately, including “Due Human Die” with the connection to the horror of reality.

“Alienated” is the perfect soundtrack for Halloween and beyond. The melodies and hooks are infectious from the moment you hear them, and the album is full of little details that make it a lasting delight to listen to.