The already legendary band Kanonenfieber has released their second full length ‘Die Urkatastrophe’. To say that this is one of my most anticipated releases of this year might be an understatement. The only member of Kanonenfieber, Noise, does have other different projects like Non Est Deus and Leiþa. Not really familiar with the two other projects since I’ve been hyperfocussing on the earlier releases from Kanonenfieber like ‘Yankee Division’ and ‘Menschenmuhle’. Especially ‘Menschenmuhle’ is mostly spun being a full length instead of a two song EP like ‘Yankee Division’. With songs like ‘Dicke Bertha’ and ‘Die Slacht Bei Tannenberg’, Kanonenfieber has given me an amazing introduction to the WW1-themed black metal he produces.

 

With the popularity of Kanonfieber quickly rising, the current album is highly anticipated by many fans. Kanonenfieber gained its popularity through the accessible black metal and amazing live show. The live show I will be experiencing myself in November in Utrecht is going to be amazing without a single doubt. If you want to experience Kanonenfieber live, you can watch the live blu ray or if you want to have the full experience, please do go to one of their live shows this coming fall/winter. It is going to be worth it.

 

With the singles ‘Menschenmuhle’, ‘Panzerhenke’, ‘Der Maulwurf’ and ‘Waffenbruder’ all have been released throughout the year, Kanonenfieber has given us a lot of time to get used to the bomb called ‘Die Urkatastrophe’. With all of the singles being released from May until 18th of September, two days before the release on the 20th of September, I tended to lean more to the single ‘Der Maulwurf’. 

 

‘Der Maulwurf’ is for me the embodiment of a catchy black metal song. It is nothing like a traditional black metal song whatsoever but the elements are all there. The scary aspect to the traditional tremolo picking. However what is not traditional is that there is a chorus that is hard not to sing along to. Even though it is in German, it’s as easy to sing along as to a Rammstein song after a few listens. 

 

The sheer pain and suffering that is in this amazing piece of black metal is astounding. This is written with an incredible passion for the history and horrors of WW1. By hearing music made with such passion, it is almost inevitable to not not like ‘Die Urkatastrophe’. The incredible sad guitar melodies during ‘Ausblutungsslacht’ do make you think how the young guys have felt during those exhaustingly horror battles in places like Verdun and Tannenberg. An excellent musical portrait of the WW1 horrors while being accessible and not overly theatrical.

 

The lasting impact that ‘Die Urkatastrophe’ will have on Kanonenfiebers discography will be immense. Being signed to Century Media Records is already amazing but to have your AAA-record company release being such a staple as ‘Die Urkatastrophe’ is something to be proud of. All of the elements of a successful (black) metal album are there. The accessibility, ferocity and brutality are all there. Mix that with an amazingly selling European tour, Kanonenfieber is ready to conquer the metal world with their latest weapon in its armory ‘Die Urkatastophe’.