The band started out in Stuttgart, Germany in 1994, when Alex Schlopp (guitars), Ralf Botzenhart (bass), Matthias Sayer (vocals), Dennis Hummel (keyboards) and Till Hartmann (drums) decided to join forces as Farmer Boys and recorded a demo called ?Farm, Sweet Farm?. The material was intriguing enough to catch the attention of Bear Music (BMG) who released their debut LP ? ?Countrified? ? in 1995. The album received a bunch of great reviews and was quite a treat for music fans in general, as it featured a guest performance by Anneke van Giersbergen (known from The Gathering) and a brilliant cover version of Depeche Mode?s Never Let Me Down Again?. Farmer Boys returned with their sophomore album ? ?Till the Cows Come Home? ? in 1997. But their biggest success came with their third album ? ?The World is Ours? ? released in August, 2000 (featuring a new bass player ? Antionio Leva). With such impressive songs as ?Here Comes the Pain? and ?If You Ever Leave Me Standing? Farmer Boys were finally recognized on the rock scene as a bold and intriguing act. It took Farmer Boys four long years to complete their next LP ? ?The Other Side? ? which was eventually released in 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album brought some significant changes in the band?s style. Gone were the lyrics referring to farm life ? instead, the group took on a concept based on movies (with multiple musical references to famous films and series). Also the music introduced a slightly different approach, showcasing the band?s ability to handle more delicate sounds while at the same time retaining their metal roots. Some of the riffs resembled Pantera or Prong, while other ? Smashing Pumpkins, Paradise Lost or even Porcupine Tree. All in all, the songs on ?The Other Side? proved to be the most mature material that Farmer Boys had ever written. With brilliant melodies and astonishing, melancholic vocals by Sayer, each track on this LP was truly remarkable. The album spawned one major hit ? ?Stay Like This Forever?. After releasing ?The Other Side?, Farmer Boys went on hiatus until December, 2008, when they played a reunion gig in their hometown Stuttgart.

 

?The Other Side? remains an exceptional album in Farmer Boys? discography. It brings all the best elements of their previous works, mixing them with a unique cinematic vibe and a bold approach towards alternative music. For all those who enjoy rock and metal that sound unlike anything else, this LP is nothing short from mandatory. The new digipak edition of the album includes 4 bonus tracks - 3 audio and 1 video. Remastered using tube technology, digitally edited on a golden disc. Limited to 2000 copies. The release date is scheduled for 11th October in Europe and 7th December in USA (via MVD).

 

 

Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD 1395 DG
Barcode: 5907785036321
Format: CD Digipak (limited edition of 2000 numbered copies)
Genre: heavy / gothic metal
Release date: 11.10.2010 Europe / 07.12.2010 USA

 

 

1. For The World To Sing
2. Like Jesus Wept
3. Once And For All
4. Where The Sun Never Shines
5. Premonition
6. In My Darkest Hour
7. Stay Like This Forever
8. The Other Side
9. What A Feeling Like
10. Trail Of Tears
11. Home Is Where The Stars Are
12. Get Crucified

 

Bonus tracks:
13. Requiem
14. The Day We Died
15. Immortal
16. Stay Like This Forever (videoclip)