There is always something grand about a decent album the moment you slip it on. Kollwitz mange to sustain a strong sense of gravitas in this fairly short album.
I’ve never been partial to thrash heavy vocals. I’m always filled with images of people throwing up, Crows on acid or in a serious need of a throat sweetie. But this is usually because it’s a vocal style for the sake of fitting into a recognised genre. Here the vocal work works as it by and large contrasts the melodic music.
So if a band can convert the likes of myself over in spite of something then it can only be a job well done. Particular highlights include a moody opening in “What You Are Given,” as well as an atmospheric instrumental “And the Stars Did Wander.” Considering this is by large a metal/punk album – it’s nice to find this anomaly in the middle that almost sounds like an instrumental track from the early Cure period. There is also a nice mellow piece in “Stille For Stormen” to help widen their ambitions even further.
For such a short album it’s pretty impressive the variety in which they take their work and the talent involved in the writing of the material. I don’t know if these guys are playing anywhere soon but it’s worth keeping an eye out for them!
