Verwüstung by ph4nt.

***2024/01/07: slightly remastered 2 year-anniversary edition***

For the first time, ph4nt. created a story-driven concept-album, set in an assumed future. Its 15 tracks are the result of discussions on (the effectiveness of) activism and the future of a climate-changing world.

Verwüstung takes place in a world where it's too late to prevent the climate catastrophe:

Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, rampant desertification, and subsequent shortages of food & drinking water as well as a destabilization of society and governments all become apparent issues over the course of the album.
The album takes you on a decade-spanning odyssey through the eyes of an unnamed protagonist, who is struggling to find their role in trying to prevent the imminent catastrophe. Starting out as a civil-disobedient climate-activist, they are soon frustrated with the lack of political action and the ongoing destruction of our environment. This soon drives them to more violent means to achieve their goals, while civilization disintegrates more and more.

The storyline explores themes of hope and powerlessness, violent action as a way to counter this helplessness, the consequences of having to leave behind friends and partners in order to go underground, living in the shadows as a wanted eco-terrorist by a failing government, and what possibilities may arise for independent communities after a collapse of civilization. After all, a catastrophe for some may be a dawn of hope for others.

Upfront, ph4nt. listened a lot to Art-Rock albums like The Fragile or The Wall. The musical backdrop to this tale certainly ain't Art-Rock, likewise it isn't simply the same brand of Synth-Punk of 2021s "Viel Lärm um Nichts". ph4nt. explored new production techniques, creating complex soundscapes by using distressing synth-layers, with a greater focus on strange melodies, built upon their familiar unrelenting, pummeling, Industrial-tinged grooves.

As usual, all of ph4nt.s music is creative commons and free to use ;)

***2024/01/07: for original mix contact me or listen on soundcloud etc.***

Tracklist

1.	Tohuwabohu	3:20

2.	Rauschen der Maschine	4:10

3.	Pflasterstein	3:29

4.	5 vor 12	3:47

5.	Schweine	3:06

6.	Ammoniumnitrat	3:28

7.	Flammen	2:35

8.	Tränen	3:11

9.	Razzia	2:54

10.	Untergrund	3:51

11.	Was habt ihr getan?	3:34

12.	Revolution	3:20

13.	Transformation	1:57

14.	Odysee	4:46

15.	Am Ende	5:32

Credits

released January 7, 2022

Heartfelt thanks to Nami of das_synthikat for helping me to shape this story and sequencing the narrative! Also for helping with some of the lyrics on track 1, 3, 6, 12 and 14 as well as providing vocals for track 12 <3 You can find out more about Namis musical & non-musical ventures here: lefherz.net =^.^=

Also many thanks to my long-term supporter Basti of nasserecords.bandcamp.com for bringing my music to tape once again :) And to Abaddon for letting me use a sample of their awesome song State of the Union dummyboys.bandcamp.com/track/state-of-the-union-2

Furthermore, i'd like to recommend reading "Desert" by an unknown anarchist author, which also helped my to shape some thematical ideas: theanarchistlibrary.org/library/anonymous-desert

ph4nt.s musical companions on Verwüstung are their synths
Novation MiniNova, Korg Volca Drum & Kick and the free software Ardour (ardour.org).

License

CC BY 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.