Over The Top

Over The Top is book on VHS' fifth album. Themes are unabashedly anti-war and anti-xenophobic at a time when some of the worst atrocities of our lifetimes are perpetuated, replayed and shared, often to public silence and complacency. First drums and then vocals were recorded before any other instrumentation, a new approach for the band in collaborative songwriting.

Walter's vocals were influenced by Chris and Cosey, Technotronic, Die Warzau, and especially 1980s-era Cabaret Voltaire (namely Micro-Phonies), and lyrics by the plights of war victims, refugees and democracies. When he wrote the soundscapes and chords to accompany lyrics and vocals, Karl felt creatively indebted to Nine Inch Nails, Dr. Dre, Tobacco, and particularly the dystopian albums No One Ever Really Dies by NER*D and Outside by David Bowie.