Herpes are an aggressive post-punk group that elicit comparisons to art-school punks like Devo, Pere Ubu, Gang of Four, and The Mekons. Yet, true to the spirit of that late-'70s/early-'80s era, Herpes don't sound like any of them. German culture and language has always lent itself to tough, uncompromising rock ‘n’ roll, and the hard grooves of “75A” make a solid case for Herpes’ mastery of the form. Their second album, Symptome und Beschwerden ("Symptoms and Ailments"), is a great, stripped-down affair where the bass pulses and drives the attack. “Ruckzuck” sounds like a German version of The Fall, with frontman Florian ranting like Mark E. Smith over a Neu!-like krautrock rhythm. “Neues England” adds lurking keyboards and raw guitars. “Zaster” dares toward funk with its quick zip-up. “Verflucht” moves forward with formidable power and guitar chords that dryly grind up against the drums. It’s the sound of frustration. No translation necessary.