While Secret Memoirs Of A Forced Fate is still echoing, German hopefuls ACT OF CREATION take already the next step in releasing its sophomore Endstation.
The most striking trait on Endstation are the German lyrics, something that does not happen that often in that genre, so the gents might secure a certain creative pro.
Once again self-produced and self-financed ACT OF CREATION now follows more melodic paths, approaching stronger the Death Metal side than the Thrash Metal side of music. As for me personally a bit of a pity, I much liked the brutality of the predecessor. The casually felt pushy lead guitar is again present, in fact reduced, but still annoying at points.
As already mentioned Endstation outweighs with its lyrics. The album opens with the bleep of an ECG and so it gets closed: flatline. In between - without pathos but very angry - stories get told. Stories of death, war and decay, of loss and abuse and most of all of deathly diseases you cannot escape from. The lyrics, they are painful and uncomfortable. They make you squirm and the blood running cold. This atmosphere gets even amplified by mosh monsters such as Keine Heilung (guest vocals by Daniel Jakobi of Lay Down Rotten), Wo bist Du (which reminds me a bit of grandiose band Janus) and Diagnose Tod. Guest vocal by Stefanie Nix in Herbst des Lebens I find too harmless, too gentle, and improper to the lyric lines. Same goes for singer Jordan. At some points he could have added a more schizophrenic and despaired touch. A bitter smile comes up at the 40 second high-speed-track Langsam with a slightly changed Pink Panther theme.
Endstation is surely not a musical milestone, or a paragon of innovation. But ACT OF CREATION do a good job and stand out a little of the huge mass. But most of all Endstation touches with its lyrics.