14. October 2026
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Media Review

Tokio Hotel – Encore

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Tokio Hotel - Encore

Tokio Hotel - Encore
4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Fluent album
  • Blending between pop and rock songs

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Some monotony in the context of the album

Tokio Hotel boosted their popularity in Germany as teenage artists. Nowadays, they are popular worldwide. On 16th October the band is sharing their eighth studio album overall. Here is my review of Encore.

 

Tokio Hotel – About The Artists

Tokio Hotel is a German rock band from Magdeburg. Founded in 2001, they performed under the band name Develish until 2003. Remarkably, they play with the same lineup until today. The most well known band members are the twins Bill (singer) and Tom (guitar, synth) Kaulitz, born on 1st September 1989 in Leipzig. The other members of the quartet are Georg Listing (bass) and Gustav Schäfer (drums). Tokio Hotel had their breakthrough right with their debut single Durch den Monsoon (2025), which topped the German and Austrian charts. Some two years later, they released Monsoon in the English version as well, it nowadays comes with more streams than the original.

It has been part of Scream. The somehow English version of their debut album Schrei strengthened their international appearance and also lead to chart placements outside Europe, e.g. the United States. The most recent Tokio Hotel album was 2001, released in November 2022.

 

Tokio Hotel – Encore – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 35 minutes.

1. Changes

Encore start with two songs, which Tokio Hotel have shared beforehand. Changes is a nice rock song with a pop-ish beat. Here and there, you feel that Bill and Tom live in Los Angeles since quite a while now – there are some North American influences in this mature track.

2. Without You

The second track Without You is more emotional, there is a nice mixture of angry and melancholic vibes. I don’t like me on my own without you, they state in the second stanza. This one describes the story and the mood of the track very well.

3. Call Me By Your Name

After the two opening track had quite some rock power, Call Me By Your Name starts with strumming acoustic guitars. The gentle and touching style of the song stays on even though the volume is increasing. This leads to the first emotional highlight of the album.

4. Lover’s Cove

Love is a key topic in Encore (like in many releases…) – and thus the twins and their band take us to the Lover’s Cove next. There is quite a bit of modern country pop vibes in here. The verses remind of hip hop pop tracks.

5. Memory Lane

Memory Lane is another feature single of the album. The song starts like a straight pop tracks, but rocking elements are introduced rather quickly. Despite that, the song does not work that well in the context of the album to me, as it does not really add that much.

6. Wanderlust

Quiet and intimate – it is time for another rather slow track. Wanderlust comes with quite a bit of melancholy. The harmonica in the background adds a personal touch on the one hand, but also feels a bit too much to me. A nice feature of the song, though, is its nice flow.

7. Shout 2 The Universe

The second half of Encore begins with Shout 2 The Universe. The song is not as powerful as the opener, but there is a really nice touch in the song. Tokio Hotel blend modern elements of rock and pop in here, but still stay – presumably – stay in the comfort zone of their fans.

8. Homesick

There have been rumors last year that the brothers tend to move back to Germany, to the Tegernsee region in Bavaria. Maybe Homesick might be a good soundtrack for that at first sight. However, the song is rather about missing being with your beloved ones and family. The down to statements like I miss your coffee. The song has a nice plot, alternating between very quiet elements and louder, rocking statements. Here and there, when Tokio Hotel repeteadly state I’m coning home, there is a bit of mononotny. However, Homesick comes with a fine, gentle ending.

9. Dye My Hair

Tokio Hotel fans listened to Dye My Hair in early September 2026. You made me dye my hair is the beginning of the chorus. The song does have rock elements and reminds me of 1990’s music. Dye My Hair has a really lovely presence and stays in your mind.

10. Terminal 1

I see you in the airport, where all the strangers meet – that feels like a song I can relate to. The song is one of the more gentle ones, but has some really nice melodic elements like short saxophone parts. Even though the chorus feels a bit too soupy,  I really like this one.

11. California Nights

Based on their bio, it is not too surprising that Tokio Hotel praise California Nights in the eleventh track. The song has this night blending of pop and rock elements. It shares feelings, but still comes with some nice  passages. However, the chorus finally strikes – on me it is the most beautiful one on the album.

12. Perfect Ending

Is the last song on Encore indeed its Perfect Ending? However, the song again tells about some struggle. Why does it feel so wrong that we had a perfect ending?, they ask in that song. Maybe not a perfect chucker-out, but a modern, present, and really nice recording.

 

Tokio Hotel – Encore – Spotify

I will add the Spotify widget once the album has been published.

 

Tokio Hotel – Encore – My View

There are quite some good things in stock in Tokio Hotel’s Encore. The songs are easy listens and most of them are individually worth making it to your playlists. However, in the context of the album, there is versatility, but also some quite recurring  ideas. Thus, teh album does not make it to the very top of my ratings.

Favorite Song: Call Me By Your Name

 

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