Album Review: Annisokay - Enigmatic Smile

The Metalcore Band «annisokay» is a five-piece post-hardcore/alternative rock band from Halle, Saxony-Anhalt and are best known for having written the Einzus music for a well-known German wrestler. In March their second album "Enigmatic Smile" will be released, which contains 11 tracks with quite pop metalcore. Musically, driving rhythms and aggressive shouts meet varied melodies and clean vocals. So no Metal in the real sense, but the songs aren't bad.

"Annisokay" was founded in Halle in 2007 and consists of the five musicians Dave Grunewald (shouts), Christoph Wieczorek (electric guitar, clean vocals), Norbert Rose (electric guitar), Philipp Kretzschmar (bass guitar) and Daniel Herrmann (drums). ). Already in the first two years after the foundation two demo recordings appeared with "My Ticket to Reno" (2008) and "The Point You Will Still Miss" (2009). The first EP "You, Always" was released in 2010 and was financed out of pocket. The troupe covered the song "Telephone" by pop singer Lady Gaga, but this cover has never been released on CD. The band's name is inspired by Michael Jackson's «Smooth Criminal», and gives a positive answer to the question in the chorus: «Annie are you ok?». In the documentary "BAD 25" by director Spike Lee about the work and the subsequent tour for the album "BAD", the secret is revealed, which was the inspiration for "Smooth Criminal". Since the 1960s, 300 to 400 million people have learned cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the Annie manikin as part of first aid. Michael Jackson was also one of them. The idea for the chorus «Annie are you ok?» is actually based on Micheal's experiences from a first aid course and the encounter with the «CPRAnnie».

The enchanting face of the resuscitation doll, with which countless first-aid participants learn the "kiss of life", is also known as "L'Inconnue de la Seine" - "the unknown woman from the Seine". Behind her peaceful facial expressions lies a story of heartbreak and sadness. According to legend, a drowned woman was recovered from the Seine at the end of the 19th century. Since no external injuries were visible, it was assumed that she had taken her own life. People said it could only be because of a broken heart. As was usual at the time, her body was displayed in the Parisian mortuary in hopes of establishing her identity. This should never happen. The pathologist on duty was so fascinated by her face and enigmatic smile that he hired a makeup artist to immortalize her likeness. The death mask of the unknown woman from the Seine has been copied numerous times over the years, is the muse of a number of artists and was the template for the "Annie" resuscitation doll. She has become a symbol of life. However, her death is still a mystery.

ANNISOKAY - Carry Me Away [Official Music Video]

The new album with the mysterious title «Enigmatic Smile» was created in two stages over the course of 2014. The band flew to the USA in January to work on new songs with producer Joey Sturgis (including Asking Alexandria, Emmure, We Came As Romans). Sturgis previously produced the band's debut The Lucid Dream[er]. The second half of the album was then created in autumn 2014 under the direction of William Putney (including Suicide Silence, Miss May I, Northlane). Musically, the songs are often too poppy for me, I would perhaps wish for one or the other longer phase in the songs that was played more aggressively. I also miss a certain variety, since the songs are almost all structured the same way, which quickly becomes monotonous in the long run. However, one has to admit frankly that the guys are musically pretty good and the «Enigmatic Smile» was produced in a really high quality.

"Annisokay" has a very good reputation in the live scene and who knows, the pop songs might be a bit harder and faster there. The "Annisokay" can do what I lack on the album, they prove in exactly one song, namely in "What is left". If there were more songs like this on the album I would have liked it a lot better. Somehow I can't shake the feeling that the album aims to reach as wide a audience as possible and that it's less about the music and more about success. And that could definitely work out for the band, since the songs in general aren't really bad, but they don't really grab me. It's a shame, because the band has huge potential and a lot on the box, so it's an album with soft rock for the romantic date of an emo couple. If you like something like that, «Enigmatic Smile» is recommended.

You can do the album buy in our shop.

tracklist

1. Carry me away
2. Naked City
3. Snowblind
4. Panic attack
5. Wolves In The Walls
6. Fragile line
7. Traveler
8. Life Cycles
9. Fame
10. New Autumn Light
11. What is Left

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