“I had to learn by ignorance, so fucking listen.”
The Oklahoma Kid have been together now for a decade, exploring their model metal sound out of Germany. They have now firmly established themselves as one of the countries go-to bands. Their debut full-length arrived in 2017, following two previous EPs. Sollarray began to flex The Oklahoma Kid’s full range of sound, with its variation of textures and full-on experimentation. For their sophomore LP, Tangerine Tragic, the group drafted in producer Jan Kerscher of Ghost City Recordings, someone who comes from outside of the genre and thus shows the angle that TOK are beginning to take their latest record. And now with Jan behind them on this record, the group have begin to fully reach their potential.
While elements of previous records remain, Tangerine Tragic feels a rejuvenated and revitalised version of The Oklahoma Kid. There is a grit and an edge to their sound, lead by Brümmer’s raspy vocals. It’s an impressive performance from the frontman. While I appreciate the style might not be for everyone, it is one of the standout components on the records. Tracks such as “A Velvet Feel“, “Melt Into You” and “Words Like Violence” would not fully reach their heights without his vocals.
The aforementioned grit is its key element, even with its softer and melodic moments scattered across the record. “Pale Tongue” combines 00s-esque racing trance with fighting style breakdowns. There’s an energy to Tangerine Tragic that is simply infectious. Later track “Waldsterben” has a fury to it, rightfully calling out the “filthy scum” who pursue ecological disaster, and TOK call it out in a fitting enraged manner. Along with Brümmer’s vocals, the mixing and mastering on the instrumentals play a big part in giving Tangerine Tragic its abrasive and industrial sound. It gives the record an underground feel, an authenticity that would have been lost if put together in a clean fashion that has been seen on many records in the genre.
To ignore Tangerine’s Tragic’s melodic moments would be to ignore a large part of the record. On tracks like “Dye Black To Pink“, it offers up toe-tapping guitar hooks and catchy vocal melodies. Whilst it is not full-on Movements style, it invokes a similar feeling to the American unit’s sound. “A Velvet Feel” offers up the record’s finest vocal hooks, with its chorus coming out as one of the most memorable moments across its 11 tracks.
Let us think it’s growing out
Distance keeps heating it up
Help me, define it
I’m losing focus
With its 11 tracks, Tangerine Tragic sits on that delicate 47 minute mark. There is plenty to explore and discover on the record, and it’s one which evolves which each full listen. However, it is difficult to brush aside the feeling that certain tracks could have been shorter, and that some even cancel each other out. Particularly in the middle section, Tangerine Tragic’s sound explores familiar territory in its structure and sound. With the experimentation The Oklahoma Kid do dip into, especially towards the electronic and trance aspects, there were missed opportunities to fully transform these tracks into unique beasts of their own. While it’s not to say they should fully dive down the route that Northlane have recently explored on Obsidian, it’s difficult not to feel some tracks could have used with a similar mindset.
With Tangerine Tragic, The Oklahoma Kid have crafted a sound that they can be proud of. There is a uniqueness to it that will lend it a stark memorable nature which will ensure listeners won’t quickly forget the German unit. The experimentation and fresh elements are expressed suitably across the record. This alongside its gritty manner give Tangerine Tragic its character. The record further adds to a strong collection of releases coming out from Europe in recent months and years, which may be the start of a sleeping giant awakening in this scene.
8/10
Tangerine Tragic will release on June 3rd via Arising Empire, and you can pre-order the record here.