Survivor by Funker Vogt

The album was published in October 2002. The single, Date of Expiration, published in June, serves as a foretaste of what to expect as a sonic direction. It contains the title track plus two new songs. Survivor presents the future in a rather dark scenario, the titular hero being the last of mankind. Furthermore, the Survivor is a metaphor for the history of Funker Vogt itself. Despite a few quarrels with some labels and the words of sceptic critics, FV is still alive and kicking, gaining in strength and popularity with each new album. Survivor's story is pictorially presented on the cover and explicitly told in the booklet. The cover presents a talisman or dogtag sinking to the bottom of the sea. The talisman, which belongs to Survivor, also embodies Funker Vogt's logo, symbolizing both the endurance of Survivor and of Funker Vogt. It will last and outlast even the Survivor. Funker Vogt is immortal. Survivor reappears in the lyrics, where he retells the story of the wars has outlived (This World), of his time as a soldier and its impact (Compulsions), He tells the story of the POWs, which may be allegorically interpreted as the history of the decline and fall of civilization, of his dreams and wishes (Final Thrill), of his discontent with present-day society (Stolen Thoughts), of his search for fulfillment and solace (Faster Live), of his experiences as refugee (Refugees). In Red Queen his stories are rounded off: as in the beginning of the album (Date of Expiration), the Survivor does not narrate his stories, but addresses the listener directly and analyses not his own life but that of the listener. Whether the cap fits or not, is up to every listener to decide. Musically, the album offers something new, presenting for the first time guitarist Thomas Kroll live. Both Fallen Man and Red Queen profit from this intense use of the guitar. Moreover, the album contains Funker Vogt's first ballad, while some other songs push the envelope of what they have done in the past, adding variety and richness to the established canonical Funker Vogt-style. The band trusts the richness and complexity of the new album will appeal to most, including the harshest critics. ℗ 2002 Metropolis Records