Sturmgeist

STURMGEIST was founded in the autumn of 2002 as a solo project by Cornelius von Jackhelln (SOLEFALD). Meant to be a Thrash/Black outfit, STURMGEIST took a slightly electronic/industrial turn while recording the “Meister Mephisto” debut album (Season of Mist, 2005) in Sound Suite Studio, France. “Meister Mephisto”‘s direct expression and martial attitude went down well with the listeners and critics who got what they expected: grim hardcore metal without detours or surprises. Producer Terje Refsnes once characterised STURMGEIST’s music thus: pop songs in metal disguise. After the release of the album Terrorizer critic James Hinchcliffe called STURMGEIST’s imagery “a unique kind of jackboot chic”. In February 2005, STURMGEIST played before cheerful crowds in Paris and London, turning the gig into a party by serving Jägermeister on stage.

After the tour, von Jackhelln recruited guitarist John E. Jacobsen a.k.a. Panzer as a full member of STURMGEIST. Much of Sturmgeist’s second opus “Über” was written during von Jackhelln’s stay in Rome, and completed during a devilishly hot week in Florence, Tuscany. A certain Roman influence is present in verses like these: “Black banner marble arch / A massive army up to march / Skulls to crush land to raid / Brothers attack victors invade”. STURMGEIST’s lyrics are aggressive yet playful, taking metal’s traditional pathos to new heights, sometimes to an ironic effect.

“Über” was recorded at Børge Finstad’s TopRoom Studio from October 2005 to January 2006, and produced by von Jackhelln. Drummer Anti Christian (TSJUDER, GRIMFIST and CUMSHOTS) lays down a hard-hitting and steady foundation for the new songs on “Über”, enhanced by von Jackhelln and Jacobsen’s downtuned twin guitar attack. Songs like “Blood-Axe” and “Grimanic Guerillas” display the essence of STURMGEIST, with their compact structure and in-your-face message, while “Über” provides two real surprises: “The Unknown Soldier” is STURMGEIST’s first ballad ever, marked by Jacobsen’s melodic songwriting sensibility and countertenor Olav Benestvedt angelic voice. Falco’s song “Rock Me Amadeus” should need no further introduction, as it perfectly captures the Baroque decadence of the mid-80s: “Es war um 1780 / Und es war in Wien / No plastic money anymore / Die Banken gegen ihn”. With their first cover song, STURMGEIST also celebrate the 250th birthday of the rocking Amadeus, Mozart himself.

“Über”‘s artwork is inspired by the etchings of Albrecht Dürer and the aesthetics of the German Kaiserzeit. The slightly modified Union Jack that adorns the front cover of “Über” prolongs Sturmgeist’s hungry and irreverent exploration of Germanic culture – the said flag might not only indicate a German-dominated Britain, but also inversely, and more probably, a British-dominated Germany – or simply STURMGEIST’s stage banner!

After the success gig at the Underworld in Camden, von Jackhelln authored the song “London” as a morbid but humorous homage to the London audience : “Eternal City Northern Line / I purge the filth I herd the swine / Hang the robbers from my Tower / That’s what they get for hating Power / Life’s lost Death’s won / People die but party on / I am London King of Cum / Drink my sperm you filthy bum”. You know what to expect!

Sturmgeist who? J-A! Sturmgeist what? Ü-B-E-R!

Line-up:

• Cornelius Jakhelln : Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Orchestration, Programming
• Panzer : Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Bass Programming
• Anti-Christian : Drums

This band is no longer active on Season of Mist.