If there’s one thing that Germany is good at, it’s partying. Trust me, I’ve been to Berlin and partied hard (although I did get savagely denied entry into Berghain), so I know. Few bands party like Electric Callboy do, whose fun mix of dance music and metalcore has seen them soar to stardom and headline status. With a new clean singer (Nico Sallach), new name, and new focus on fusing rhythmic pelvic thrusts and raised devil horns, 2022’s Tekkno was a revelation for the band. The problem with ‘gimmicks’ is that it’s hard for lightning to strike twice, but Electric Callboy gives it their best crack on Tanzneid, an album that doubles down and expands on everything that made Tekkno such a hit.
Starting with the titular track, the album gets off to a familiar start, with an electronic beat that makes me imagine a gust of wind hitting my face from the boys thrusting in tandem (do we call that a thrust gust?). It doesn’t take long for the heavies to kick in and screamer Kevin Ratajczak to flex his throat muscles. Tanzneid – a made-up word that means dance envy – is the perfect opening track and sums up everything the album has to offer: fun vibes, catchy choruses, dance breakdowns and incredibly heavy moments.
RATATATA comes next, and the collaboration with Baby Metal first released in 2024 highlights one of the album’s problems, regardless of how good the track is and how well the combination between the artists works – very little here is new.
Understandably, the shift from purchasing albums to streaming them has changed the way albums are released. For a band like Electric Callboy, where every song is big enough to be an event, it means that by the time the album is out we’ve heard the bulk of it, taking away some of the excitement. For an album like Tanzneid, where only two of its 10 tracks are new (excluding the remixes) and one is a cover, it’s not exactly a fresh release.
Still, that shouldn’t take away from the individual quality of the songs, and RATATATA is a ripper. Hypercharged follows, and the Brawl Stars anthem continues the trend set so far with an EDM-infused beat backing Nico’s soothing cleans before Kevin unleashes his brutal growls leading into another singalong chorus. It’s probably the weakest track here for me.
Let The Good Times Roll brings The Offspring into the mix and is a catchy pairing of the two bands, although it’s the tamest offering on the record. While Elevator Operator, perhaps the standout track of the bunch for me, continues to be a must-listen despite first releasing in January 2025. This is the one track that really highlights the band’s improvement across the board. Razor-sharp guitars, an industrial metal-style beat, and a dance breakdown that feels ripped from Blade’s nightclub scene all combine immaculately. But it’s Kevin’s brutal screams that stand out the most, having gone to another level with some savage inflections.
It’s not until the halfway point of the album that we get our first taste of new music with Heartclub. It sees a slight change of tact, with the band parking their Eurodance ambitions for sheer brutality, charging out of the gate like an angry Spanish fighting bull with crushing guitars, manic drums and growls, and it still manages to find room for a lush hook. It’s interesting, and slightly refreshing, to hear this version of Callboy without the daftness.
It’s not long before normal service resumes, with The Way You Are nailing the brief of 90s boyband pop meets brutal symphonic deathcore. If you’ve been following the band since Tekkno, you’ll likely not be surprised by how good they are as a boyband. The Way You Are is another example of why every Callboy song gets its own airtime – just watch the video if you don’t believe me.
I know Sum 41’s Frank Zummo stepped in and earned his place behind the kit, but the inclusion of the Still Waiting cover on the album, no matter how good it is, still irks me when new tracks are scarce. The Saviour is the other unreleased track, and once again leaves the satire schtick at the door with relative success. It still has the positive vibes that Callboy are all about, but also has the big heavy moments we love to hear. Revery closes out the album in a heavy and frenetic way. Featuring one of my favourite breakdowns on the album, Revery once again showcases Kevin’s powerful screams and just how well he and Nico work together. There are four remixes to dabble with once the main event wraps, but truth be told they’re all rather forgettable.
Final Thoughts
This latest batch of tunes further emphasises just how confident Electric Callboy is with their sound. And when they’re headlining festivals and selling out stadiums, it’s hard to blame them. With Tanzneid, they’ve managed to capture the energy and chaos from their live show, and I’m even more excited to see them next month in Melbourne. I just wish that we got a couple more new tracks to enjoy while we wait for what’s next.
Bangers: Tanzneid, Elevator Operator, Heartclub, The Way You Are
Electric Callboy
Kevin Ratajczak – Lead vocals
Nico Sallach – Lead vocals
Daniel “Danskimo” Haniß – Lead guitar
Pascal Schillo – Rhythm guitar
Daniel Klossek – Bass guitar, backing vocals
Frank Zummo – Drums
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