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
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Bandcamp
Zeitgeister label
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 