Annisokay (stylized as annisokay, pronounced Ann is okay) is a German post-hardcore band from Halle, Saxony-Anhalt.
Up to date Annisokay released two demo-CDs, two EP and five studio albums: The Lucid Dreamer was originally self-released in 2012 (2013 via Radtone Records in Japan) and was re-released in 2014 when the band signed a label deal with SPV GmbH. The follow-up record Enigmatic Smile was released in March 2015 and peaked at no. 68 in the German albums charts.
Annisokay toured Germany several times and played alongside acts like Silverstein, Callejon and Electric Callboy. They played at 2014s edition of Summer Breeze Open Air and at Mair1 Festival in Montabaur.
On 2 September 2012 the band released a music video for a song called "Sky" which was a single for the debut record which was released on 1 October 2012. This album is called The Lucid Dreamer and was mastered by Joey Sturgis who had worked with acts like We Came as Romans, Emmure and Asking Alexandria in the past. Allschools Network: annisokay – The Lucid Dreamer Review (German) The album was produced by Christoph Wieczorek in his own recording studio Sawdust Recordings and by Aljosha Sieg at Pitchback Studios. shop2.genesis-ec.com: Annisokay – The Lucid Dreamer Since the band's inception the band toured together with acts like Upon This Dawning, Intohimo, Broadway and His Statue Falls. partyausfall.de: Konzert: UPON THIS DAWNING, ANNISOKAY, THROUGH DEVASTATION, WELCOME KAREN (German) partyausfall.de: Konzert: INTOHIMO, ANNISOKAY, SKYWALKER (German)
In 2013, Annisokay got signed to Radtone Music to release the album in Japan. gekirock.com: ドイツ産ポスト・ハードコア/メタルコア、ANNISOKAYのインタビュー公開!日本デビュー作を3/6にリリースし日本上陸! (Japanese) On 28 June 2013, the band played Mair1 Festival in Montabaur and played together with acts like Boysetsfire, Deez Nuts, Silent Screams and Bury Your Dead.mair1-festival.de: Here we go: Heaven Shall Burn, ... – Next 15 Bands (German)mai1-festival.de: Tagesplan (German) In the end of July the band toured Germany for the first time as headline act. The tour started in Venray, Netherlands which was their first international gig.SOSGermany: Outspoken.de: ANNISOKAY: Headliner-Tour angekündigt! (German)
On 20 April 2014, the band got signed to SPV GmbH which re-released the debut record The Lucid Dreamer in Central Europe and North America with bonus material. SPV GmbH: Annisokay unterschreiben bei Steamhamme/SPV (German) In June 2014 the band toured as support act for Silverstein in some cities in Germany. In Summer the band played Summer Breeze Open Air and Vainstream Rockfest for the first time.Christina Wenig: Metal Hammer: So war das Vainstream Rockfest 2014 in Münster (Festival Review) (German)Christian Zanders: Metal Hammer: Oster-Special: Neue Bands für Summer Breeze Open Air bestätigt (German) In February and March 2015, Annisokay and Vitja played in support for Callejon on their Wir sind Angst tour. Rockszene.de: Neues Album, Video und Tour (German) Allschools Network: CALLEJON – geben Toursupports bekannt On 20 March 2015 the band officially released their second studio album called Enigmatic Smile which ranked at no. 68 in the German albums charts.Chart review: DE
Between 10 April 2015 and 25 April 2015 the band will tour as support act for Emil Bulls in Germany.Mitch: Allschools Network: ANNISOKAY – als Support mit EMIL BULLS auf Tour (German) In October the band is set to tour a headline tour in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland with support from Fearless Vampire Killers from the UK and Novelists from France. Monster Artists Management: Annisokay auf große Headliner Tour! (German) Fearless Vampire Killers announced Annisokay as their support for their UK tour in May 2015 before. Alt Mu Magazine: Melodic Metalcore Band, Annisokay Join Fearless Vampire Killers on May Tour
After an own album tour and several festivals the band announced in late 2015 that they played 72 shows in nine different countries making the year 2015 to their biggest year to date. On 2 December 2015, they announced via Facebook to take a break from live shows and touring to hit the studio for a third album and so-called "secret things". One month later Annisokay made public, that they had break-up with their drummer Daniel Herrmann before starting the work for their upcoming album.
On 28 April, annisokay released the music video of the song "What's Wrong" and announced the new album to be released on 11 November 2016. Six month after parting ways with their drummer the band introduced Nico Vaeen as new member in June 2016. A few weeks later they also revealed the "secret thing" – hinted in December 2015 – to be an EP called "Annie Are You Okay?" as tribute to their bandname giver Michael Jackson.
The EP was released only digital at 19 June 2016 and includes hardcore covers of the songs "Beat It", "Thriller", "Scream" and "They Don't Care About Us".
On 7 September, they officially revealed cover and name of the new album, Devil May Care, and released the music videos "Loud" (October 2016) and "Blind Lane" (November 2016) before the album was hitting the market. At the end of 2016 annisokay were special guest at Electric Callboy "Fandigo Tour" and announced their own headliner "Devil May Care Tour" for 2017. This tour contained shows in the UK, Czech Republic, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine as well as 14 shows in Germany. Notwithstanding the above, they played at national and international festivals for example Woodstock (Poland), Rhein Rock Open, Faine Misto Festival (Ukraine).
On 16 November 2017, the band announced they signed with the German record label Arising Empire. Later in 2017, they expand their Devil May Care Tour for three shows and confirmed different festival gigs 2018 including Reload Festival, Rhein Riot and Summer Breeze.
In return of the USA tour it was revealed that I Set My Friends On Fire will support Annisokay on their headliner "Fully Automatic Tour" for two shows in UK and 16 shows in Germany till November 2018.
On 12 June, Annisokay made public that the album will be released on 17 August 2018 and is named Arms. A few weeks later they released the songs "Unaware" plus "Coma Blue" and also announced they will play four shows in Japan for the first time while being supported by German band Walking Dead on Broadway.
After the release of Arms the album reached #26 of the official German album charts which made it the most successful Annisokay album in their band history. Till then the band played a Russia tour in March 2019 and appeared on some German festivals including With Full Force and Deichbrand. Later in the year they announced to support Emil Bulls on their "X-Mas Bash Tour" in November/December 2019.
While supporting Emil Bulls on their yearly X-mas Bash tour Annisokay presented the first brand new song with their new shouter Rudi. However they did not reveal the title so it is not known what the name is, or if the song is part of the upcoming album. On 17 April 2020, the band released a new song called "STFU" which is the first song to feature new unclean vocalist Rudi Schwarzer. On 28 September 2020, the band released another song called "Bonfire of the Millennials" which also appeared on their album "Aurora", which was released on 29 January 2021.
On 1 June 2021, Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation announced that they have collaborated with Annisokay and recorded the single "Shed My Skin", which was released on 25 June 2021. The music video itself premiered on 8 and 9 July 2021 during Within Temptation's virtual performances.
On 19 March 2023, in an Instagram post, the band addressed founding member and bassist Norbert Rose's absence from recent live shows and revealed that he would be stepping away from the band due to "personal problems in his family". They also announced that Peter Leukhardt who had been filling in on bass for recent tours had officially joined the band. Additionally, they stated that there will be a place in the band for Norbert if and when he is ready to return.
Former
Timeline
2012 | The Lucid Dreamer | — | — |
2015 | Enigmatic Smile | 68 | — |
2016 | Devil May Care | 74 | — |
2018 | Arms | 26 | — |
2021 | Aurora | 18 | 49 |
EPs
Collaborations
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