|
 A
band is a lot like an infant—it takes much effort and hard work to
raise it properly. One invests a large amount of blood, sweat, and
tears, and at times is on the verge of desperation. However,
watching it mature and evolve, while experiencing all the great
moments, makes up for all the trouble. SCHELMISH is no different.
However, this band is not like the other children. SCHELMISH has
always been a bit louder, more direct, fatter, uglier, and more
antisocial than the rest – yet at the same time always honest,
friendly and likeable.
In 1999, exactly 10 years ago, SCHELMISH came into being equipped
with spunk and a rebellious spirit. The founding members Dextro,
DesDemonia, and Rimsbold gathered together a group of crazy gleemen
still in touch with their inner child and full of motivation and
enthusiasm to travel throughout Germany in order to win their spurs.
With their loose and very often cheeky attitude, the band won
numerous audiences over und succeeded in showing people how to dance
with the help of loud bagpipes and mighty drums. In only a few
years, SCHELMISH succeeded in becoming one of the top-notch medieval
bands in Europe by playing hundreds of concerts. With five very
successful studio albums and one live DVD – capturing the essence of
a SCHELMISH concert – the band further strengthened their status.
Like children on an adventure, the rogues have always been ready to
explore new paths and allow new influences to seep into their music.
In 2006, the musicians picked up electronic guitars and added
elements of Punk, Metal, Rock, and Electro to their bagpipe power.
By combining these different genres the band clearly stands apart
from the other bagpipe-rock bands. After all, it was with the
release of the first rock CD “Mente Capti” that the subgenre “Heavy
Bagpipe- Punk” was born. The name SCHELMISH is now synonymous with
an uncontrolled party, to which everybody who dares to show up is
cordially invited. Having outgrown their baby shoes, the band from
Bonn presents itself true and honest and leaves the borders of the
medieval genre behind. Not only small clubs are enriched by the high
energy live shows and entertaining show parts, but also the big
stages like RhEINKULTUR, Wave Gotik Treffen, Summer Breeze, or M’era
Luna were successfully invaded by the gleemen. Staying true to their
path, the band received overwhelming positive feedback for their
2007 full-length “Wir werden sehen”. After taking a two-year
recording break, SCHELMISH returned to the studio to unleash their
ninth album. “Die hässlichen Kinder” (”The ugly children”) will be
released on 30 October. More punk, honest, and mature than ever
before, the cheeky rogues present their fans with the next logical
step in their career. Though the child has grown up, ugly children
always stay true to their inner child.
Although these rogues
describe themselves as
fat, ugly, and asocial, the
impish imagery should not
turn them a blind eye, nor
a deaf ear, for that matter.
Quite the contrary, as it is
this honesty and integrity
that has won the German
band an uncommonly
large and ever-expanding
fanbase over the years. With their latest album, suitably
entitled "Die hässlichen Kinder" (The Ugly Children),
SCHELMISH prove how well the Middle Ages can
intermingle with cheeky Punk Rock, catchy refrains, and
loud electric guitars. It's no wonder that the rogues call
this exciting mixture "Heavy Bagpipe Punk". Rarely does
the combination of guitars and bagpipes sound as
explosive as heard on this CD. It will soon become the
highlight of any celebration, as once these tracks play,
few party-goers will be able to remain seated. The album
is characterized by a musical and stylistic variety that
sways between punk, classic medieval rock and metal,
as well as ballads and even Southern rock inspired
compositions such as "Sommer" or the electronic
"Goresh". SCHELMISH's lyrics, written mostly in
German, tactfully tackle contemporary issues, yet do not
preach. On one of those very tracks, SCHELMISH
pledge their fans the stars. What may seem like a
common vow, is one in which the band's followers can
certainly believe, as these rogues always keep their
promises!
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