GROBSCHNITT

Grobschnitt's debut album is not a typical symphonic work as those produced in the UK around that time; most of the songs had featured in the live set for a few years and the sound is still rooted in German Kraut rock, taking some of the wild side and psych elements from that scene and mixing it with influences from Santana and some symphonic elements from early Yes and Colosseum.

The opener Symphony is a wonderful composition that sums up this album, featuring heavy organ rock as well as space rock, Latin influences and symphonic arrangements. It creates a very unique and sweeping whole. Due to the eclectic style it won't please everyone, but at least it's not boring. Apart from the bands already mentioned you can also hear echoes from Uriah Heep and Pink Floyd, particularly during the spacey guitar solo.

The following Travelling is equally convincing and impresses with Stefan Danielak ('Wildschwein') commanding power vocals. His singing is a lot more spontaneous and rocking compared to Grobschnitt's later work and he never sounded better. The rousing Santana influenced percussion and soaring guitars turn this into nothing less then a killer track. It is followed by the short Wonderful Music, that starts with a bit of flute fun and shows the band's sense of humor. The song is delicately gentle and innocently tender as only 60s and early 70s rock music could be.

Sun Trip is the second extended prog epic where Wildschwein varies the tender tones of his voice with his tormented gruff baritone. The psychedelic middle section will be too noisy for the pure symphonic public but damn it's fun! The second half is more energetic and melodious again, but not without ruff edges such as VDGG craziness, tormented vocals and harsh psychedelic blues guitar soloing.

Before they turned goofy on us, Grobschnitt made this one terrific 'serious' album, a pure heavy prog masterpiece for me and recommended to lovers of adventurous sympho, heavy prog, psych, kraut and so on.

Hint. If you like this one check out Diagonal's debut from 2008. Or vice versa of course.