As one of the premier Oi! bands in Germany, Stomper 98 are regarded as legends of working class punk rock. It is perhaps bitter irony that it was a workplace accident that left the band's frontman Sebi with a crushed foot, bedridden for nearly half a year, and needing to learn to walk all over again. Such a traumatic and life-altering event might crush a person's spirit as much as any bones, but for Sebi, it put life into perspective and fueled his desire to always rise above adversity stronger than ever. Besides, how could a band with such a rich history like Stomper 98 miss out on the chance to release a record for their 25th anniversary? The story of the new Stomper 98 album then, is the story of conquering life's challenges to emerge triumphant. Every song tells a story. We sing about what is happening around us. What we experience, how we look at the socio-political situation of the world in which we live. We sing about grief, loss and painful moments. The gaze is always directed forward, says Sebi. Stomper lets their creative juices flow as listeners will get their share of punk, reggae, Oi!, shuffle, hardcore, and more. It helps to have the vision executed by an international all-star lineup of street punk legends, including Rancid & Old Firm Casuals guitarist Lars Frederiksen, guitarist Tommi Tox, saxophonist Holgi Stomper, bassist Sille Riot, and drummer Stefan H.! In addition to Sebi's work, Tommi Tox helped to write the lyrics and help bring the music to life. Whether the challenges Stomper faced are the self-made challenges of surpassing previous creative milestones or the challenge of recovering from the blows life inevitably deals with, this latest collection of Oi! classics will send the message loud and clear to fans across the world that Stomper 98 have certainly emerged victorious.
