KINGBATHMAT - Overcoming The Monster

Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Prog | Heft: Jahrgang 2013, eclipsed Nr. 153 / 9-2013 | VÖ-Jahr: 2013 | Wertung: 7/10 | Label: Stereohead | Autor: AS


In the May issue we presented the sixth album of this band from Hastings, England, now their seventh album is in the starting blocks. The "monsters" that, according to the album title, have to be overcome are above all fears that, according to the band, are stirred up by the mass media in order to use fear as a means of manipulation. Musically, a lot has changed compared to the predecessor. Kingbathmat still combine elements of prog, new rock and art rock with pop and hard rock set pieces to a homogeneous mixture. However, this now seems a bit more artificial and sometimes reminds one of Big Big Train without taking on its elegance; the quartet remains rougher, more unpolished and that's a good thing. The psychedelic component was also amplified and now runs subtly through all the songs. The lead song, which we recently criticized, has gained a lot of expressiveness. However, the group could still work a little on the catchiness; the first pieces seem quite unapproachable. The most positive exception, though oddly clocked: the reef-heavy "Superfluous".

Top Track: Superfluous

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