Sturmfahrt is the 7th studio album by Eisbrecher. It was released on 18 August 2017.
Information
A MediaMarkt Saturn exclusive version of the album was sold. However, it was not advertised anywhere that it would include a bonus track, Wir sind Gold. The only difference was the extended tracklist and a peelable sticker that stated that the new song was included. "NUR BEI UNS MIT BONUSTITEL WIR SIND GOLD."
The album was nominated for the "Best Rock National" award at the Echo Awards .
Production
Was ist hier los? was the first track that was written by the band for the album.
The original release plan for the album had it released in Spring 2017 with a tour immediately following. However, this was postponed to August 2017 due to Alexander Wesselsky being asked to perform in Tabaluga for Peter Maffay.
On 24 April 2017, it was posted on the official Eisbrecher Facebook that the main album work had been finished, alongside a slideshow of photos of its production.
The album was finalised in May of 2017, according to a comment that Alex left (Using the official Eisbrecher Facebook account) on a ticket giveaway on the official Eisbrecher Facebook .
The official press release for the album stated that it took 1.5 years to create.
Promotion
The first mention of work being done on the next Eisbrecher album came from Rupert Keplinger and Alex in a post on the official Eisbrecher Instagram in February 2016. This photo could be from the very first creative session for Sturmfahrt, due to the time of release and length of production time mentioned in the press release.
Eisbrecher made numerous social media posts teasing the creation of Sturmfahrt, these are listed below:
14 February 2016: Eisbrecher Instagram post .
15 February 2016: Benjamin Schwenen Facebook Post .
15 February 2016: Doris Decker Facebook Post .
28 June 2016: Noel Facebook post .
11 March 2017: Eisbrecher Instagram post .
21 March 2017: Eisbrecher Facebook post .
1 April 2017: Eisbrecher Instagram post .
28 May 2017: Eisbrecher Instagram post .
8 September 2017: Alex Instagram post .
On 30 September 2016, a blurred-out poster for the upcoming Tour was posted to the official Eisbrecher Facebook featuring the phrase "Die Ruhe vor dem Sturm". 4 days later, the unblurred version of the poster was also uploaded to the official Eisbrecher Facebook . Alongside tour dates, the tour was named the "Sturmfahrt Tour", hinting at something related to the album that would be titled Sturmfahrt. The post also revealed a release window of Summer 2017.
On 17 May 2017, the first actual release date announcement came in an article with Bild about the track In einem Boot. The article mentioned gaining Klaus Doldinger's approval of the track and use of the Das Boot motif. The article also confirmed the title of the album and that Eisbrecher would also include a cover of Graouzone's Eisbär. The album was set to release for 25 August 2017.
On 23 June 2017, the band released the album's first single Was ist hier los?. On the back of the CD, the cover art and release date of the album were shown.
On 28 July 2017, the band announced, through the official Eisbrecher Facebook that the album will be released 1 week earlier than originally advertised, making the new release date 18 August 2017. Alongside the announcement, the band released the official press release for the album. The press release made mention of some song names. These are listed below:
- Was ist hier los?
- Sturmfahrt
- Krieger
- Der Wahnsinn
- Wo geht der Teufel hin
- Eisbär
- Remake of Das Boot (In einem Boot)
On 14 August 2017, the band uploaded a collection of snippets of 8 tracks of the album. These tracks were Besser, Der Wahnsinn, Eisbär, Krieger, In einem Boot, Sturmfahrt, Herz auf, and D-Zug.
A second collection of 6 tracks was uploaded on 16 August 2017. These tracks were Das Gesetz, Wir sind "Rock'n'Roll", Wo geht der Teufel hin, Automat, Das Leben wartet nicht, Was ist hier los?.
Artwork
In April 2017, Alex and Holger Fichtner embarked on a 2000+ km round trip journey to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France to take photos of the French submarine Redoutable (S611) for the cover artwork of the album. A 4 part series was recorded of the trip, final edit, and outtakes that was released in December 2018, to celebrate Advent. The 4 part series can be found below:
Part 1: Im Geheimdienst ohne Majestät
Part 2: Liebesgrüße aus Cherbourg
Part 3: Der Mann mit dem goldenen Boot
Part 4: Outtakepussy
It was not long after this trip in April that Klaus Doldinger and Bavaria Film approved of the use of the Das Boot motif for the track In einem Boot.
Other songs
As well as the 14 tracks on the default album, a confirmed 15th track during the writing sessions was the “Goldene Schalplatte” celebration song Wir sind Gold. Photographs of the recording sessions were uploaded to the official Eisbrecher Facebook and the photos were posted less than a week before confirmed album work was documented on another Facebook post.
On 13 March 2017, a photo was uploaded to the official Eisbrecher Facebook showing Alex in the studio. The photo was taken on a computer which also included some other files. Some of the files that can be seen are seen below:
- A WAV file beginning with Was ist (Was ist hier los?) and ending with 16.
- An mp3 file beginning with Wo geht der Teufel (Wo geht der Teufel hin) and ending with ...ack. (Unknown if there was an alternate lyric working title or if it is some unconnected word).
Also in the image is a list of 16 tracks which is covered by a different window. But some details can be made out. These are listed below:
- 6 unknown tracks labeled Fertig (Finished).
- 1 track with a label beginning with Vocal... (Likely to be an instrumental requiring vocal work).
- Boot - Ballade (In einem Boot).
- 3 mal 3 macht Sex - uptempo (3 times 3 makes sex) (Not released).
- Hitversuch (Hit attempt) - midtempo (Unknown if this track was finished and renamed or discarded from the album. This track was likely a working title for something else, but it is worth noting that the Was ist hier los? WAV did end with 16. Which could make this track the "hit attempt").
Tracklist
Formats
CD - Jewelcase
Germany - 1 disc, 14 base tracks.
CD - Digipak
Germany - 1 disc, 14 base tracks.
CD - Digipak
Germany - 1 disc, 15 base tracks.
Media Markt Saturn exclusive. Included Wir sind Gold. Signed versions were sold via the Eisbrecher store website.
Vinyl - Gatefold
Germany - 2 discs, 14 base tracks.
CD - Cardboard box
Germany - Digipak with 1 disc, 14 base tracks. Live DVD of Loreley 2015. Expedition goggles. Metal Pin. Poster. Sticker.
CD - Jewelcase
United States - 1 disc, 16 base tracks.
Included Wir sind Gold and a remix of Eisbär. Alternate cover art. U.S. streaming was available on 25 August 2017, the original European release date.
Vinyl - Gatefold
United States - 2 discs, 14 base tracks.
Second alternate cover art. EU import versions were made available on 19 December 2022.