The "Highland Warrior" is the title character of the opulent concept work by the band ABACUS

25. October 2021

Abacus

Der „Highland Warrior“ ist die Titelfigur des opulenten Konzeptwerks der Band ABACUS

It's no wonder that the Abacus of 2021 sound musically different from those of the early 70s, when the band from Hamm in North Rhine-Westphalia gained a certain degree of popularity in the German rock scene. While the sound was once dominated by Kraut, Folk, Jazz and Rock, now the more opulent sounds in the style of Magnum and Kansas prevail. Responsible for this change in style is keyboardist Jürgen Wimpelberg, who joined the group in 1979. Even then, only bassist Klaus Kohlhase was still on board as the only founding member, who then struck sail at the beginning of the 80s. Since then, Wimpelberg has been the captain of the Abacus cruiser, if one remains in maritime parlance. At the same time, the 69-year-old is also the executor of the estate of the shamefully underestimated innovative combo, whose first-generation members split up in a dispute in 1976, and is responsible for the reissues of the early material.

Wimpelberg, supported by musical comrades-in-arms around the age of 60 as well as various guests, therefore also puts his stamp on the current Abacus work. "Highland Warrior" is the name of the disc, which was released just in time for the band's 50th anniversary. Behind it is a content concept that revolves around the legendary Scottish king Robert I.. He lived from 1274 to 1329 and is better known as "Robert the Bruce". The cult film "Braveheart" tells the events of that era very impressively ...

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