“A prodigal talent whose glistening, proto-techno, post-punk aligned tracks exist in a Brutalist world of their own”, Clash Magazine wrote about Drangsal’s first single Allan Align in early 2016.
A year later, the German media landscape lies at his feet. His debut album Harieschaim named after the village the Berliner-by-choice grew up at, is a dark and restless indie wave affair that not only let him win the German critics award as ‘Newcomer of the Year’ but sent the biggest newspapers and magazines into rapture.
At the age of five Drangsal mastermind Max Gruber discovered Marilyn Manson on TV, a moment disclosing a whole new world to him. Becoming sort of the weirdo at his deeply catholic, conservative environment he quickly realized: “Either I’ll let them beat me up in the break, or I’ll paint my fingernails an even brighter colour”.

Today Germany’s leading media is unified in praise and adulation: „Exactly what German pop music needs these days.“ /”De Sade with frosting”/ “Without doubt the best 80s record since the 80s” / “The new martinet of German pop music.”.

After his first international show at Eurosonic Festival this year at a completely packed Vera venue, Max Gruber and his band are coming to London to give you some some extra lessons in German Angst.

9pm Drangsal