Presented at the time as “the most desperate band in Geneva”, Impure Wilhelmina released their second album, “I Can’t Believe I Was Born In July”, in 2003. Listening to it, one realizes that this description was not usurped.
A subtle carcass of what could already be described as “post-metal” in the early 2000s, there is something tense, emotional and definitely dark in these 11 tracks. Clouded violence, abysmal melancholy, falsely serene lulls, and almost unbearable sincerity. Unusually introspective and disturbing lyrics, as sensitive as they are deeply misanthropic.
“I Can’t Believe I Was Born In July” was recorded and mixed by Serge Morattel, who gave to the whole an extremely furious and noisy touch that fits perfectly with the nihilism that emerges from this album.
Some of these tracks, such as “The River”, “Get Away”, “Cruel To You”, “Answer”, “Knife”, or “The Game I Don’t Want to Play”, the final 21-minute epic, have become classics of the band and have contributed to forge its long-term identity.
Never released on vinyl before, it is now done, in a remastered version, for the 20th anniversary of this fierce monster.
“If I had kept the same state of mind that allowed me to make this album, I would be dead right now.” – Michael Schindl