Tag Archives: black metal

Germany’s KLABAUTAMANN announces details of ‘Numbered’ vinyl release!

Germany’s KLABAUTAMANN Announces Details of “Numbered” Vinyl Release

Teutonic progressive black metal pioneer KLABAUTAMANN has announced that its latest album “Numbered” – released as digipak, streaming, and digital download on December 17, 2021 via Zeitgeister – will also be available in a 12” vinyl limited edition from May 1, after completing a successful crowdfunding campaign. 

Having transformed into a solo project after Florian Troyka’s departure in 2019, KLABAUTAMANN mastermind Tim Steffens released a kind of concept album around the topic that all things in life are actually limited, numbered, a contemplation deeply rooted in the songwriter’s own experiences of loss and grief that he had to deal with in the recent years. Thus this album represents a more conceptual take than the previous ones, offering a more homogeneous and denser sound, atmosphere and some kind of story line that can even be partially inferred from the song titles. 

Numbered” would never have seen the light of day in the final shape without all the guest musicians and other contributors that Steffens invited – also countering the state of isolation that the pandemic often left us in by initiating a versatile and vibrantly creative process. Bringing together such gifted musicians like Anna Murphy (CELLAR DARLING, ex-ELUVEITIE)Andreas Maerz (STEORRAH)Marlon Drescher (MALUS) and Stephan Wehrbein – to name only a few – and integrating their respective parts so smoothly that the album becomes much more than a mere assemblage of parts can be also considered an essential aspect of the artistic process involved in the creation of this album. This was also facilitated by the impeccable, powerful mixing (Anna Murphy) and mastering (Tom Kvålsvoll) of the album. 

In the words of the artists involved, “Numbered” is an eclectic journey between darkness and light, beauty and beast; it’s an island behind the fog, new waves from dark waters, or a life resonating from within. It’s a mirror to the fears, depression and everyday questions. Mature music that grows on you. 

Numbered” proves that KLABAUTAMANN doesn’t have to hide behind the genre masters like Opeth or Enslaved, who were often cited by critics for reference. They shouldn’t compete either as they can claim their own narrow niche. 

Everything in life is numbered – that’s what makes it precious. 

Numbered” is available at this link: https://klabautamann.bandcamp.com/album/numbered

Numbered” tracklist: 

1. Snow (4:13)

2. Changed (3:00)

3. Daydream (6:37)

4. Conflicted (5:18)

5. Pretending (4:15)

6. Holding On (7:24)

7. Numbered (4:23)

8. Felt Everything (4:25)

9. Gone (6:17)

Credits: 

Drums recorded by Tim Steffens at Marlon‘s home in Hungary, August 2019 and July 2020. Anna‘s parts on ‚Daydream‘ and ‚Gone‘ recorded by Anna Murphy at Soundfarm Studios (Switzerland), December 2020. Everything else recorded by Tim Steffens at home in Germany, 2019 – 2020. Mixed by Anna Murphy at Soundfarm Studios in August 2020 – February 2021 and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Kvalsonic Lab Norway, January – February 2021. Artwork by Christopher Duis. 

Line-Up: 

Tim Steffens – Vocals, Synth, Mandoline, Guitars and Bass on track 1 / Synth on track 2 / Vocals, Synth, Clean Guitars and Bass on track 3 / Synth, Guitars on track 5 / Guitars and Bass on tracks 6-7-8 / Guitars on track 9

Guests: 

Anna Murphy (CELLAR DARLING, EX-ELUVEITIE) – Vocals, Flute, and Mellotron on track 3 / Synth on track 9

Andreas März (STEORRAH) – Vocals on all tracks excepting 8-9

Marlon Drescher (MALUS) – Drums

Stephan Wehrbein – Vocals, Keys on track 6 / Vocals on tracks 7-8-9

Ingo Kerstjens – Vocals on tracks 1-3-4-7-9

Christoph Graf – Guitars on tracks 2-3-4

Gabor Schary – Bass on tracks 2-3-4-5

Chester Gerritse – Vocals on tracks 3-4-7

Nikolaus Garmsen – Synth on tracks 7-8

Stefan Otto – Bass on track 9

Lyrics by Thomas Hansen (tracks 1-2-5), Chester Gerritse (tracks 3-4-7), Stephan Wehrbein (tracks 6-8) and Tim Steffens on track 9.

KLABAUTAMANN Online: 

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Bandcamp

Zeitgeister label

(review) Abbath – Dread Reaver (Season of Mist)

One of the icons and legends of Norwegian black metal scene is back. Yes, Abbath is back with his third opus and it is a blast. Former Immortal main man managed to defeat his personal demons and he is back strong and presenting strong opus of nine songs, one being Metallica cover. I can say that new record is more versatile than ever. Don´t get me wrong, Abbath didn´t start to play folk metal, it is versatile in extreme metal waters, with many influences of thrash metal in the song structures, also death metal in opener Acid Haze, but for me a nice surprise was involvement of something like mandoline melody at the start of one of my personal favorites being Dream Cult. Black metal roots are still there, especially in Abbath´s trademark voice that you are able to recognize anywhere and anytime. Also, Myrmidon is thrash metal influences aggressive anthem with wicked guitar solo and melancholic melody underneath it all. Cover of Metallica´s Trapped Under Ice thematically and musically fits perfectly to this album in case you wondered why Abbath covered Metallica. This album is high energy cold riffing, black thrash death metal at its finest and I can hardly wait to witness this live.

For sure one of the contenders for best releases in 2022 and we have just started.

9/10

Vreid released black metal cover of Paint It Black!

In April of 2020, Norwegian black ‘n roll brigade VREID were invited by the Norwegian Nobel Peace Center and the Inferno Festival to perform a cover song of their choosing as a part of the “Songs that change the world” series. Unfortunately, this illustrious event was swiped off the earth by the plague that has pestered the world the last years. Nevertheless, being true rock soldiers, VREID decided to continue this creative path and recorded the song, which has never been released. Now, the band is finally sharing their The song the band decided to interpret is the rock anthem “Paint it Black” by the The Rolling Stones as the band regards this track among one of the most important pioneer songs for rock n´ roll, and a blueprint from where this tree of heavy music culture has grown into a many headed beast for 7 decades now. This song and video are a celebration of the fantastic creativity that started in the 1960s and have been developed by so many great artists and bands ever since. VREID has incorporated their humble respect to many of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest musicians.