Kadavar
Berlin
Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 21 August 2015
Review by Derek J. Huckel
Kadavar have the perfect opener with Lord of the Sky in their new album Berlin. The opening psych guitar chords send tingles shooting instantly up the spine. The feeling continues seamlessly with drums following, then by Lindemann’s distinct vocals.
This is the third album for these German gents. After having toured the arse out of their last beauty, Abra Kadavar, including Australia supporting Tumbleweed (other road warrior comrades were Wolfmother, mighty The Sword, and masters Monster Magnet), Kadavar took a few months to hone and record this album. They played live on to analogue equipment in making this, and that’s felt throughout Berlin. It’s as though a more warm sound comes out of the speakers enveloping you, more than from most recordings that are released in this current age. Though rock, Kadavar also are firmly in the psychedelic and stoner genre – think Led Zeppelin and Monster Magnet mixed with Black Sabbath – and damn they’re good at it too! In listening to Berlin the sweat feels as though it’s flying from them on to you as though they are playing live in your room.
After the first two upbeat numbers the more laid back psychedelic tune Thousand Miles Away From Home lands. The album as a whole has a more ballad-like feel while still rocking. My faves off Berlin are Filthy Illusion, the ripping Stolen Dreams that plods along then revs up, soon delving into dreamy stoner riffs, then rocks out again – killer – and the brilliant opener Lord Of The Sky.
Calling the album Berlin, Kadavar feel they’re honouring the city of their roots as a band, and forming their sound. Also including on the album a cover of the song Reich der Träume (the only song they sing in their native German tongue) by Nico, who is also from and buried in Berlin. Though Berlin is nothing terribly innovative sound wise from their previous album, they have made a tasty addition to their discography that fans are going to lap up, and it’ll get the band plenty of new ones too I’m certain. I think I still have more a spot for Abra Kadavar, with its tunes like Liquid Dream and The Man I Shot, but I know this one will likely grow more on me increasingly with each listen.
Berlin is an album worthy of your attention.
