Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

KARIBOW

Crossover Prog • Germany


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Karibow picture
Karibow biography
Founded in Wetter, Germany in 1996

KARIBOW is a German Crossover Prog band founded by Oliver RÜSING in late 1996. In the nineties RÜSING played with multiple projects including LAST TURION, COUNTERPARTS, CHINOOK, MAQUIS, MC WEST AND THE CANADIAN SWELL GUYS and many more, working as a live drummer, drum teacher and studio musician in Europe and North America. As he progressed through his bands, he picked up multiple influences and styles that would eventually create the foundation that would be KARIBOW. The end result is an award winning project with strong roots in Progressive Rock, Electronic Music and Album Oriented Rock.

The band originally started as a studio oriented project with RÜSING's influences shown on their earliest albums, "Shush" (released in 1997 as the GREEN WATER PROJECT), "Supernatural Foe" (1998) and "Three Times Deeper" (1999). The band took on a more mainstream rock sound from 2000-2007 recording several albums including "Tribal Avenue" (2001) and a soundtrack for "The Ayganyan Project One" (2005).

KARIBOW's progressive past finally showed up again on the concept album "A History of Inorganic Talk" (2007). Three and a half years later, "Man Of Rust" achieved the German Rock & Pop Award in the Best Arrangement category in 2011. KARIBOW's latest album "Addicted" was released in November 2014.

The band has focused more and more on live performances, with the current (May, 2015) line up of Oliver RÜSING (vocals, guitars), Chris THOMAS (guitars), Markus BERGEN (keyboards), Gerald NAHRGANG (drums/percussion) and Thomas WISCHT (bass). In December 2014, KARIBOW had the privilege to be honored with the German Rock & Pop Award again, this time as Best Progressive Band 2014.

::Bio written by Oliver Rüsing, edited by Roland113::

KARIBOW Videos (YouTube and more)


Showing only random 3 | Show all KARIBOW videos (5) | Search and add more videos to KARIBOW

Buy KARIBOW Music


KARIBOW discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

KARIBOW top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 2 ratings
Supernatural Foe - Vocalized
1998
3.00 | 2 ratings
Tribe
2000
3.00 | 2 ratings
Tribal Avenue
2001
3.00 | 2 ratings
The Ayganyan Project One (OST)
2005
3.50 | 2 ratings
A History of Inorganic Talk
2007
3.93 | 11 ratings
Man of Rust
2011
3.91 | 17 ratings
Addicted
2014
3.88 | 75 ratings
Holophinium
2016
3.85 | 67 ratings
From Here to the Impossible
2017
3.73 | 11 ratings
The Unchosen
2018
3.94 | 13 ratings
MOnuMENTO
2018
3.44 | 9 ratings
Supernatural Foe - Rebirth
2019
3.72 | 9 ratings
Age of Amber
2021
4.08 | 4 ratings
A Tribal Treat
2022

KARIBOW Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.33 | 3 ratings
Essence
2020

KARIBOW Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

KARIBOW Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 1 ratings
Echoes from the Evil Past - The Best of 1997-2005 Remastered
2006
4.17 | 3 ratings
Three Times Deeper
2020

KARIBOW Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 1 ratings
Three Times Deeper
1999
4.00 | 1 ratings
Besser
2005
5.00 | 1 ratings
Inorganic Talk (Acoustic)
2008
4.00 | 1 ratings
Hollow Be My World II
2009

KARIBOW Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Three Times Deeper by KARIBOW album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2020
4.17 | 3 ratings

BUY
Three Times Deeper
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by Jobethyoungfan

4 stars A concept album that I find mostly very enjoyable. It definitely rocks in places and the songwriting is well constructed if you do not mind the short spoken passages that crop up occasionally. I found the general feel of the album to be varied and easy to listen to in a good way. The music is produced and mixed excellently, with good, bouncing melodies and some softer elements added to good effect. I found the vocals very good and all the guitars excellent. Keyboards are quite synthy, with some pleasant piano passages in places and the percussion is good .

There are plenty of hooks and good excitement in many places throughout. It holds my attention from track 2 to the end. That omission of track 1 right there is because I want music and I am not a fan of the spoken word, apart from maybe the occasional short sentence. Track 1 is 4.44mins of speech and I will be skipping it frequently when listening to this album! It need not detract from the whole, though. We have here 62.54mins of album (still 58.10 if you dive in most times like me at the start of track 2).

Variety, harmonies and rhythms all score 4/5 in line with my overall album rating. The lyrics are sung clearly, although the message in this concept album bypasses my grey matter (another good reason for skipping track 1). The real constant throughout is the vocals and they are good, so that is a plus.

My favourite track is World Designs and I would say the full album is nearly up to the standard of From Here to the Impossible. For comparison, nothing in my collection stood out as very close to the Karibow sound, but I reckon if you like Spocks Beard X album, there is a good chance you will like this. The artwork is good, with a nice digipak c/w lyric sheet, although as I said earlier the lyrical messages are lost on me. I do love that final comment after the credits, "May all sentient beings be happy and free from suffering".

Overall album rating: 4/5

 Holophinium by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.88 | 75 ratings

BUY
Holophinium
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Prog Reviewer / Special Collaborator

4 stars After the success of his latest studio album, 2014's 'Addicted', multi-instrumentalist Oliver Rüsing (here providing lead & backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums) brought in some musicians to turn Karibow into a live band, being joined by Christopher Thomas (acoustic guitar), Jörg Eschrig (mandolin, backing vocals), and Markus Bergen (keyboards). If that was not enough, he also brought in multiple guests in Karsten Stiers (lead vocals, Errorhead), Michael Sadler (lead & backing vocals, Saga), Colin Tench (guitar. Corvus Stone), Sean Timms (piano, keyboards, Unitopia), and Daniel Neustad (fretless bass). This was a new beginning for Rüsing and the band, and they were soon touring with the likes of Saga in support of this album which is nearly 100 minutes in length. Although there are large elements of Neo in this release, there is also quite a lot of symphonic, while there are also some gentler more melodic styles as well, resulting in a crossover progressive rock album which is easy to get inside the first time of playing. The vocals are powerful with just a slight edge, and although Sadler does not take that many lead roles he certainly stands out when he does. I had not looked at the personnel before playing this, and as soon as I heard him, I was reaching for the information just to check as he has one of the most recognisable voices around.

There is no doubt this is a very long album, but unlike many which attempt this sort of length there is never a feeling of mass padding, and instead is an album which lulls in the listener and allows them to stay inside the world which has similarities with the likes of RPWL, IQ and elements of Porcupine Tree and is certainly very enjoyable.

 A Tribal Treat by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2022
4.08 | 4 ratings

BUY
A Tribal Treat
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by Drmick1971

4 stars Karibow's new release is interesting. They have given us a re-recording of two earlier albums, 'Tribe' and 'Tribal Avenue'. I have not heard these original albums and so I cannot give a comparison in that regard. So I will review these with fresh ears.

Tribe: 1. "Told" Tribe opens with 'Told'. An up tempo opener measured with some different synth styles and tight drums. Guitars come in with the hook line chorus bringing high energy. A true and solid rock beginning.

2. "Rain Kid" 'Rain Kid' starts with a nice soft entry soon followed by the same vitality as 'Told'. A longer song with a slower chorus. A wonderful solo begins with a staccato rhythm leading into a smooth electric guitar piece. after a soft singing section a rich distorted guitar solo brings passion. A fitting end.

3. "Time to Wonder" A slower melodic song. It is with deeper feeling and a more lavish melody in the background. A guitar solo that to me could have featured in any song on Rush's 'Grace Under Pressure' album. It finishes with a high paced flourish.

4. "Out of my Head" A moderate tempo rock song with a catchy hook and chorus. Another worthy guitar solo perfectly matches the song leading to the final chorus line.

5. "Hey You (Ashes to Ashes)" I find this song a highlight. Oliver's singing really delivers for the chorus that absorbs and sticks in your head. The guitar solo is soft and meaningful which brings a full rounded sense of sound before the song ends.

6. "Life is More" A rousing ballad starting with soft guitar and then suddenly building into an anthemic, strong and emotional climax.

7. "The Line Between" A quick and strong synth-guitar combination entrance with a positive singing style that again gives us a chorus to sing along to. An imaginative guitar solo with a slight West Indian beat.

8. "Blessed" A softer song played with sensitivity. A song that is comfortable to the ear and a memorable alto sax solo shines.

9. "Shadow Dancing" An ominous sounding start followed by Oliver's voice singing in a state of mystery. A creative use of alto sax on this song which finishes with a strong synth solo.

10. "Water" The longest song on this disc. It has a high rhythmic keyboard succeeded by rhythm guitars leading into the anthem. Nice guitar moments are interspersed before we hear the next verse. A single note piano part comes in half way through, then a soft guitar leading into a full band invigorated climax.

Tribal Avenue 1. "Fly High" A good guitar and synth beginning with this song. An excellent build to the chorus giving us the cleat hint to the title of this song. The feeling of being on top of life. A quick and satisfying guitar solo before the final singing section ensues.

2. "Green Tea" Beautiful guitar solo starts this song which has a pleasant flow. In between verses are pieces of guitar filling in the song perfectly.

I prefer beer myself but I'll take Green Tea as a song any day.

3. "Saint" A good rock beat sets off this piece. This ushers into the song title with differing styles of soloing. It has a majesty with a good strong feeling.

4. "Little Rebel" An easy going inception soon gives over to an energetic song with a quick pulse that you can jump up and down to. A true uplifting vibe.

5. "Make It Up" An industrial launch begins this song. A fast bass tone comes in before the first highlight of the song. This is soon surpassed by a stunning section of jazz piano that is played so tight, water could not pass through. An intense entry of this album.

6. "Tribe" A soft symphonic sound enters soon with a tribal beat. Then a powerful full blown wall of sound breaks through with a tribal background singing. Soft pipe sounds enter before Oliver sings the chorus for a second time. There's a real tribe facet here in terms of music and story.

7. "Come Into This World" A mid tempo song with yet another anthemic hook that gets trapped in your mind. Oliver really has a knack in this regard which is probably why he has become the successful songwriter he has become. The music is always a constant even when it is the background to his singing.

8. "Follow" To me this song starts with stars in the sky. Which then becomes a strong heavy beat thumping into the main body of the song with nicely placed intimate moments. We are taken on a roller coaster of music. Nice long guitar notes with energetic synth. A very expressive guitar solo enhances this song in a wonderful way. Ending in a highly exciting rhythmic climax. This is another highlight song for me.

9. "Point of View" Another mysterious vibe begins this song. A heavy beat controls this song that again magnetizes you with the catchy and hook laden chorus.

10. "Stories of the Dead" A wonderful strong entry to finish this album with. A song that breathes, gives moments of emotive guitar parts in between verses. A glorious positive end played by a talented, tight and expressive band.

Both these albums have in my opinion a definitive 80's rock feel. That suits me fine as the 80's were my introduction to music as a teenager.

Oliver Rusing writes and sings about the struggles of life, the pain of life, the hurdles we have to jump over to move forward. More importantly he tells us to overcome these problems, how to win and how to face difficulties. The music enhances this message with its positive outlook and vibrancy. This double tribal treat is a superb addition to your Karibow collection, to any collection.

I'll finish this review by quoting a song in this collection. "Life is More".

 Age of Amber by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2021
3.72 | 9 ratings

BUY
Age of Amber
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by Drmick1971

4 stars Here is Oliver Rusing's new tour de force. Nearly two hours of exceptional passion and music. I was introduced to Karibow with their MONuMENTO album through Antony Kalugin of Karfagen and Sunchild fame. I would say I have never looked back, but I have in order to collect their back catalogue. And what an impressive catalogue.

I get the impression that Oliver is a positive person and this is reflected in this album. Even where the lyrics depict darkness, Oliver seems to find the silver lining or the positive narrative that provides hope to whatever problem is being addressed. For example from the song 'Falling Apart at the Seams' is the line that the song starts with, 'I'm celebrating my weakness today and I'm having the best time of my life. I'm chasing the storm, I break the walls.' Perfect example of turning the negative into the positive, accepting your flaws and embracing them, fighting them. In "The Animal", 'We gave ourselves a mission. We came to reign and multiply. Bad kings by definition subdue the earth and rule the sky. Hang on, hang on. Hold on, hold on to dignity.' If that is not a message of humanity, I don't know what is. Let us reach for that dignity as a race.

Usually with a two disc album, one disc tends to overshadow the other. Not in this case. A high standard and consistency is performed over both discs equally. All songs are strong with message, content and musical ability. However what impresses me the most is the solo's. If by keyboard, saxophone or guitar. These solo's are mini music masterpieces.

Age of Amber is a triumph. Oliver Rusing is a true talent in song writing, composing and as a musician. As a listener I can only hope Oliver is continually inspired by life to continue this amazing journey of music.

 MOnuMENTO by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2018
3.94 | 13 ratings

BUY
MOnuMENTO
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by FragileKings
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Oliver Rusing's KariBow has really been on a roll these last few years. Ever since earning a couple of German Music Awards early in the decade, KariBow has stepped up the gear and delivered almost two albums a year, beginning with the double disc package of "Holophinium" in 2016, 2017's "From Here to Nowhere" and the reissue of "Man of Rust", and 2018's selection of unreleased tracks "The Unchosen" along with the double disc "MOnuMENTO".

Though Oliver is responsible for nearly everything from instruments, to song-writing and vocals, to recording and mixing, he has since 2016 brought in a selection of talented guests to contribute to the KariBow sound. Guests have included the late Colin Tench (Corvus Stone, CTP, Oceans 5), Sean Timms (Unitopia, Southern Empire, Damanek), Marek Arnold (Seven Steps to the Green Door, Toxic Smile, Cyril), Monique van der Kolk (Harvest), and Michael Saddler (SAGA) to name but a few.

"MOnuMENTO" was inspired by the hypothetical thought of what if this was to be the last album Oliver could ever do. The title then incorporates the words "monument" and "memento" as a visual reminder of what Oliver Rusing and KariBow leave for the world in this hypothetical scenario. The album is a double disc with the first disc being the regular album while the second is comprised of two epic songs which are divided into parts with each part its own track on the CD.

The music is exactly what we have come to expect from KariBow: very powerful, emotive, melodic rock with beautiful interludes of soft rock and harder rocking moments. Oliver is always one to try something new to broaden the KariBow sound and he has help from several guests, including Michel St-Pere of Mystery and Huis, Hayley Griffiths of Kamataka, John Young of Lifesigns, and Joe Cairney of Comedy of Errors,

The title track is our introduction to the album and with 11:41 of music, we have an adventure awaiting us. A powerful, melodic rock song indicative of the KariBow sound, there is a beautiful sax solo.

"District of Dignity" features vocals by Hayley Grifiths and works itself from a gentle beginning toward a big stadium sound. Hayley's vocals give the song extra breadth. "Spirits on the Water" is another duet with a female vocalist and quickly became my favourite track with its beautifully haunting melodies and accouterments of well-placed world music sounds. As with most KariBow songs, there is more than one musical theme, offering pleasant surprises in the song. There's also a great keyboard solo.

The first disc wraps up the album successfully with "Seeker of Dawn" and "Elay", two more strong KariBow tracks. Disc one earns itself a place in the KariBow catalogue, and then we are off to a fairytale fantasy and a crusade with disc two.

"Prelude to a Fairytale" is an orchestral piece that could easily be the intro to a fairytale movie. "Lost Is All I Am" is one of the big highlights for me on the second disc. The protagonist has come seeking answers from a cave- dwelling creature but he fails to understand the proffered wisdom as he can't understand the words. The creature speaks in deep, grumbling tones while the protagonist speaks in German in order to emphasis the language barrier. The song then switches to a surprisingly aggressive metal theme with the lyrics barked in German. I love this part! The chorus is yet another dynamic and powerful melody.

Guest vocalist appears on "Intruder" and the adventure continues in typical KariBow fashion with "Touching the Borderline", followed by "The Lion and the Lamb", another melodic rocker at first before it returns to more orchestral music. Very beautiful. This transitions into "Keep of Fairy Blood", the conclusion to the story and in three parts, including a reprise of the melody from "Lost Is All I Am" and a music box "solo" before the song reaches its climactic conclusion. It's an adventure in music alright, but it's not over yet. Now we're off on a crusade!

"Prelude to a Crusade" is another orchestral intro and rather different from the Fairytale intro. There's some lovely harp which I feel is quite befitting the music of KariBow. The music is sombre and inspires images of a few figures setting out in the mists of early morning. Then "The Lonely Way" bursts in before easing back. I can't help catch the lines, "You're raising your sword while I'm raising my shield / Why don't you fight your battle on somebody else's field?".

"A New World" is a prime example of how KariBow can move from atmospheric music to melodic rock, then to almost hard rock before swinging back to those gorgeous melodies. Catch those soaring notes in the song's conclusion! Then the whole Crusade track concludes with "Monument of Life", acoustic guitar and accordion, while the "Crusade" melody is reiterated soft and soothing. This final track is a beautiful conclusion to not only the second disc but the "MOnuMENTO" package all together.

For my own conclusion, "MOnuMENTO" doesn't make any grand changes to the sound KariBow has established over its last six releases. The guitar sound, the music style, and of course the vocals remain consistent. But as with any KariBow album, that consistency is balanced by the broadening of the KariBow sound palette via the inclusion of guest musicians and vocalists and Oliver Rusing's perpetual interest in trying to add new things to KariBow songs. Anyone new to KariBow would do well to spin these two discs. They offer an excellent introduction to the music of KariBow.

 From Here to the Impossible by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2017
3.85 | 67 ratings

BUY
From Here to the Impossible
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars German project KARIBOW is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Oliver Rüsing. Following many years and numerous albums released in an underground existence, Rüsing gained recognition from the music business in his native Germany in 2011. Since then his productions have risen a lot in stature, recognition and commercial impact. "From Here to the Impossible" is the most recent Karibow album, and was released through German label Progressive Promotion Records in the summer of 2017.

Those fond of the accessible side of modern day progressive rock should take note of Karibow straight away. This is elegant, flowing yet also vibrant progressive rock, and made in a manner that should make the greater majority of the songs here a perfect fit for FM radio play at that. Those who tend to enjoy bands that explore the more accessible and melodic parts of the progressive rock universe should feel right at home with this album, and this is an easy CD to recommend to that crowd.

 From Here to the Impossible by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2017
3.85 | 67 ratings

BUY
From Here to the Impossible
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by FragileKings
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Oliver Rüsing is on a roll. His band's latest album, "From Here to the Impossible" seems to have done what a year ago might have been inconceivable: KariBow has topped "Holophinium".

But wait a moment! Back up, you say? KariBow? Holophinium? What's that? A garden shrub?

KariBow is a band project started by Oliver Rüsing way back in 1996. It was a six-piece outfit to begin with, but over the years members left and at last Oliver was the sole member. Working as an art professor and drum teacher, Oliver kept KariBow alive by writing and recording new material and releasing albums in small runs. Oliver is a talented song writer, composer, drummer, guitar player, and singer, and he seems to have no trouble handling bass and keyboards, plus he can record and mix everything on his own, and he does all the artwork to boot. Who needs a band when you can do all that?

But KariBow's releases were largely a private affair. That was until he recorded "Man of Rust" in 2011 and his wife encouraged him to submit it to the German Rock & Pop Musicians' Association and it won an award for best arrangement. Three years later, "Addicted" won the same award. Realising that he had something going on here, Oliver Rüsing began an ambitious project that would include guest musicians such as Michael Saddler (SAGA), Sean Timms (Southern Empire), and Colin Tench (Corvus Stone). It culminated in the double disc "Holophinium" which was released last year. The album proved to be a tremendous success as KariBow toured with SAGA. At the time, only "Addicted" was available from the back catalogue, but inspired by the great live reception, Oliver remixed and rereleased "Man of Rust" in the fall of 2016. And then this year in July came "From Here to the Impossible".

What makes any of the four recent albums work so well is Oliver's ability to write memorable, catchy melodies in an AOR format and blend in progressive passages or sneak in complex music beneath the melodies and beautiful choruses. Though "Addicted" and "Man of Rust" are less obviously progressive rock works (they are though!), "Holophinium" saw KariBow reaching for new heights. It was as if KariBow's music had come of age, smartly marrying melodic adult rock with modern progressive endeavors. And it's my opinion that "From Here to the Impossible" has taken one more step upwards.

Once again, KariBow delivers catchy and memorable melodies and once again the more complex passages are there. Right off the bat, we are treated to some of that in the first track "Here". But KariBow is more than just odd time signatures and stop/start rock. Once more Oliver has taken aboard a cast of outside talent and since last year also has a proper band to play live (one member joking that they were a KariBow cover band because they play live the music that KariBow wrote and recorded). This time we have Jim Gilmour of SAGA on keyboards, Sean Timms and Daniel Lopresto of Southern Empire bringing in piano/sax and guitars respectively (Daniel sings lead on "System of a Dream"), Monique Van Der Kolk of Harvest adding her beautiful vocals, Marek Arnold of Seven Steps to the Green Door and Toxic Smile contributing sax, piano and keyboards, and Mark Trueack of United Progressive Fraternity singing some backing vocals.

This team has created an album that goes where none of the other KariBow albums have gone before. Monique's vocals are angelic and complement Oliver's so well. The sax work on "Black Air" and "Never Last" is stellar, the whole instrumental intro to the former track being just superbly wonderful. And there's some orchestral arrangement for "Requiem".

Going beyond that, though, KariBow gives us harder edged rock in tracks like "Passion" and "Lost Peace" and contrasts that with such soothing ear candy in "Inside You", "Never Last" and the intros for "Crescent Man" and "Black Air". Songs are never entirely predictable because a harder-edged song might ease back and turn over a pretty melody or a softer track might crack a snare drum and slam down a power chord and change gear. One thing for certain is that for those who prefer their rock to not get too hard and heavy or too technical, KariBow is an easy choice then.

As with last year's "Holophinium", I feel KariBow have produced a very strong album that combines progressive rock with melodic rock. But it's my impression that the band has really struck just the right balance here. The music is truly coming to the forefront. Well done Oliver Rüsing and company!

 From Here to the Impossible by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2017
3.85 | 67 ratings

BUY
From Here to the Impossible
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Prog Reviewer / Special Collaborator

4 stars

I don't often receive CDs these days, a combination of many labels now using digital downloads for promotional purposes and living at the bottom of the world. So, I was pleased to firstly see a padded envelope, and even more pleased when I saw what was inside it as this is a beautifully put together release. A digipak, with great artwork, there is also a twelve-page booklet with all the lyrics, even more art, and details of who played on what song. This time Karibow have brought in some guests, but to all intents and purposes this isn't a band release but a project being run by Oliver R'sing, who on some numbers provides virtually all the instrumentation as well as the vocals. The clear majority of the songs feature Oliver and just one or two others, but as he is involved to such a high degree it does mean that there is continuity and a band feel.

The seventy-two-minute-long concept album is a neo-progressive masterpiece with great songs, wonderful vocals, and lots of different styles being displayed, with influences from IQ and U2 through Porcupine Tree and Steve Hackett. From the beginning to the end there is a feeling of direction and depth, with different effects being provided to provide emphasis. This could be the delicate use of saxophone, or wonderful duets between Oliver and Monique Van Der Kolk (Harvest). The result is a well-produced modern progressive rock album that will appeal to all fans of the genre.

 Man of Rust by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.93 | 11 ratings

BUY
Man of Rust
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by FragileKings
Prog Reviewer

4 stars What a year 2016 has been! It's been such a tragic one because of all the high-profile musicians and actors who have left us or, in the case of the cancer victims, been taken from us. Others of less renown have also slipped away. However, the universe requires balance, and while we've been saddened by so many losses, I have been watching as musicians in my circle of friends and acquaintances have been enjoying a burst of success this year. One such artist is Oliver Rüsing and his band KariBow.

Oliver first formed KariBow as a six-piece band somewhere near the end of 1996, but as other obligations pressed upon the lives of each member the band dissolved. Oliver himself went on to be an art professor and word is that he was also a drum teacher. But Oliver has a gift for writing songs and composing and playing music. KariBow became a personal project for which, if I have this correctly, he wrote, composed, played all instruments (guitars, keyboards, bass, and drums), recorded, and produced all on his own. A steady succession of albums followed over the years, released in small numbers and not for a broader market beyond friends and a small interested fan base.

That began to change in 2011 with the release of "Man of Rust". His very wise and perceptive wife told him to stop making albums for the shelves and to get his music out there. Oliver submitted the album to the German Rock & Pop Musicians' Association (DRMV) and it was chosen for the award of best arrangement. Three years later, he released "Addicted" and it too won the same award, this time for best progressive band. That led to Oliver's most ambitious project yet, the phenomenal "Holophinium", a full album of progressive melodic rock with a band and a cast of stellar guests including Sean Timmins, Colin Tench, and Michael Saddler of Saga. A second disc featuring the multipart 37-minute track "Letters from the White Room" was part of the package. KariBow toured with Saga and have since played some festivals in Germany as well. With KariBow's fan base suddenly growing, an interest developed in earlier albums (at the time of the release of "Holophinium", only "Addicted" was also available on CD and "Man of Rust" was a download only). Oliver, fresh of the tour with Saga, took a brief holiday and then jumped back into the studio. The result is a re-release of "Man of Rust", remixed and remastered, with three extra studio tracks not included on the original version..

In an interview, Oliver stated that he weighed heavily the choices of simply remastering the album and re-recording the songs. A friend encouraged him to keep the originals, but Oliver felt some parts could be improved upon. So he decided to redo some parts but leave the rest and just remix the album. The new version of "Man of Rust" was released in October.

As to be expected from a KariBow album, there's a generous offering of heavy, melodic rock with many tracks hiding underlying complexities as well as a few more obvious progressive (i.e. longer an more complex) numbers. Oliver excels at writing beautiful catchy melodies, and songs like "Ceraneo", "The Big Y", and "Ceremony" are outstanding examples of his talent. The title track is probably the most complex song on the album moving through different changes to the music, sometimes quick and challenging, other times soothing or passionate. As with "Addicted", much of the album is beautiful, heavy melodic rock. Oliver doesn't try to make KariBow a progressive rock band; however, he's a creative person (he does all the album artwork himself, by the way) and when a song grows into something more than a four-minute melodic masterpiece, Oliver permits his muse to dictate the course.

Now in possession of all three KariBow CDs that are currently available, I was struck the other day with what may seem like a far-fetched comparison. Deep Purple's first two albums were similar in style though each still being distinct enough from one another. Their third, self-titled album was to me, farther reaching into prog territory. I feel "Man of Rust" and "Addicted" also share a commonality and "Holophinium" is the album that sounds more like a full-blown modern "prog" album. Whatever the case may be, I recommend all three albums to anyone who enjoys deep and rich melodic rock with a heavy guitar side and that also goes without restraint into more musically complex territory which earns KariBow a place in the progressive rock world.

 Holophinium by KARIBOW album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.88 | 75 ratings

BUY
Holophinium
Karibow Crossover Prog

Review by guspanet

4 stars KARIBOW - Holophinium (2 CD) - 2016 Progressive Promotion Records

Staff: Oliver Rusing: Lead and backing vocals, drums, guitars, bass, keyboards. Michael Sadler: Lead and backing vocals on ¨River¨(Saga) Sean Timms: Piano and keyboard solos on ¨Quantum Leap¨(Unitopia) Colin Tench: Solo guitars on ¨Part of the Century¨ Karsten Stiers: Additional lead and backing vocals on ¨Orbital Spirits¨ Jurg Eschrig: Mandolina on ¨Walk on Water¨, additional vocals on ¨Holophinium¨ Daniel Neustadt: Fretless bass on ¨Angel Scent¨ and ¨Moon¨ Chris Thomas: Acoustic guitars on ¨Some Will Fall¨ Markus Bergen: Keyboard solo on ¨E.G.O.¨

Tracks: CD1: The Fragments 01. Distant Movements (01:44) 02. Holophinium (06:06) 03. E.G.O. (11:28) 04. Victims of Light (06:55) 05. Some Will Fall (04:07) 06. Connection Refused (04:35) 07. River (06:04) 08. Angel Scent (05:59) 09. King (05:04) 10. Quantum Leap (08:59)

CD2: Letter from the White Room 01. Moon (Part I) (02:15) 02. Walk on Water (Part II) (07:35) 03. Orbital Spirits (Part III) (05:04) 04. Eden (Part IV) (06:39) 05. Lifelong (Part V) (07:53) 06. Part of the Century (Part VI) (02:52) 07. Plutonian (Part VII) (03:52)

In Germany, Oliver Rüsing, at finals of 1996, created musical project by himself and he named Karibow. With 17 albums done, the originally drummer and then multiinstrumentalist, he composed, played and recorded all by himself, with occasionals guests. With mix of styles including IQ, Saga, Marillion (with Fish), etc., this band AOR Crossover Prog released in march 2016 double cd with outstanding conditions, named Holophinium, with more progressive rock like the last work: Addicted of 2014, winner of two prizes in Germany. This new work of Rüsing, with additional great musicians, begins with CD1 called The Fragments, which consist of 10 tracks, with: ¨Holophinium¨, ¨E.G.O.¨, ¨Victims of Light¨, ¨River¨ and ¨Quantum Leap¨ like the more intense . The CD 2: Letter from the White Room, represents an epic suite in itself, consisting of 7 parts, and with a more complex structure than The Fragments, with lyrics that tells about a letter who is writed by an astronaut in the white room, previous entering the spaceship. In the matter of music is similar like a rock opera with all the themes like part of a great project. Neither covers and booklet nor music and lyrics, try to define a high evolution work with solid and beautiful compositions, to obtain a musical mix because of the staff with Oliver in first place but near a few steps, excellent musicians like Sean Timms from Unitopia and Michael Sadler of Saga, to mention some of them. Ending this brief review, this double CD, in my opinion, represents the beginning of a long road in progressive rock, which certainly will have the attention of fans with this music genre. Highly recommendable.

Gustavo Panetta

Thanks to Roland113 for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.