FOLD: With Debut Album, German Band Recaptures the Essence of Grunge

Grunge, as many over 30 know, reached its peak in the 90s. A new scene emerged during that period, after rock and heavy metal had become more focused on party and fantasy themes in the 80s. Something more depressive and realistic, with social themes more in tune with the real world, arrived. In terms of sound, it was an alternative punk rock with light touches of heavy metal virtuosity, but with a much more melancholic atmosphere.

It was during this period that the style entered the mainstream, with names like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains dominating the charts and leading the then-new genre. Today, grunge is practically another element of the underground, yet it has never ceased to exist and maintain its presence in the scene, even bringing in contemporary names who understand the genre and know how to mold it to the current moment.

One of these names is FOLD. Although not from Seattle (the home of grunge) or even the United States, the German band, hailing precisely from Zweibrücken, knows very well what they are doing and fits everything perfectly into the current times, making their sound timeless and encompassing all the elements of grunge.

This can be heard in their debut work titled „At The End Of The Sun,“ where they do not hide the fact that the aim is to recapture that 90s sound and adapt it to the current mold. This is something the quartet, consisting of Stephan Alt (vocals), Michael Peidl (guitar), David Forbes (guitar), and Dirk Nilles (drums), easily achieves.

In the 13 compositions, spread over just over 45 minutes, they deliver energetic, heavy songs with modern production without losing organicity. Everything flows naturally, with consistency, proving the quartet’s cohesion. These are the common traits of the tracks.

The distinctions lie in the varied atmospheres they propose. One of FOLD’s great differentiators is not falling into cheap sentimentality; not all their compositions are melancholic. In fact, many of them sound energetic, and when they are denser, they lean towards a darker side. All this without losing the essence of the style.

But, in the end, the repertoire is so balanced that pointing out one or another highlight might not only be unfair but also a grave mistake, as with each listen, more details and qualities of the album are discovered. The fact is that with „At The End Of The Sun,“ FOLD has achieved its objective.