For many of you who haven’t heard of Key Matter, it is a German-based conceptual artist/band that makes really sweet pop-rock and metal music. The German band made quite an impact in the alternative metal scene with their self-titled album “Herrader”. After their success, they went on to create albums such as “Euphoria” (with guest vocals by Mauro Palladino), “Wake Yourself Up” (with J.M. Boniface), and “A Favorites Freely Walk Your Way” (with Kero Wertheimer). Now with the new album entitled “Black Atalanta”, the original lineup is back and better than ever.
Just like their name suggests, “Black Atalanta” features a black and white theme with distorted guitars, keyboards, and other electronics making the whole album a head turner. Of course, the band members are all incredibly fast musicians with great pitch. This will be evident on the album cover as each member’s fingers are outlined silhouetically on the album cover. This creates a sense of urgency, because you know that something good is about to happen, just wait… !
Actually, this very modern and fast-tempo vibe can be found on almost every aspect of “The Black Atalanta” album cover. From the song titles down to the album artwork and even the video sleeve (which is a bit slower paced and blurs the image slightly), you’ll see that there is a lot happening on this album. One of the greatest parts of this kind of black metal music is when bands incorporate guitarists who play “in the style” of Ulrichter, Ginnsway, and members of death metal bands such as Celtic Frost. But what makes “The Black Atalanta” so unique is that it doesn’t sound like any of this stuff… it sounds like it belongs in a completely different class of music. That is what sets “The Black Atalanta” apart from so many other albums. schlüsseldienst Münster
The vocalist, Martin van Beethoven, does an amazing job of keeping the songs at an upbeat level that will keep your hair’s standing in goose bumps. Somehow, he does not overdo it, and his ability to infuse emotion into the songs is top-notch… but where lies the beauty of it all? In fact, the beautiful melodies and lyrics manage to co-exist so well that there is no way to differentiate one from the other. Martin Van Beethoven is a master at creating hypnotic yet melodic lead work. It truly is remarkable to listen to him perform and he does it with ease.
And of course, when it comes to musicality, nothing comes close to this album. Lyrically, the songs are constantly sung in a very hypnotic voice, which is also present in the musical arrangement. However, what impresses me most about this album is how Van Beethoven manages to seamlessly fuse these two elements into one… something that not too many artists are able to do. Somehow, Beethoven turns this talent into a full blown metal album that will have you headbanging along with him no matter where you are.
Bottom line, if you’re looking for a great classical metal album that has a lot going for it, then look no further than Black Atalanta by Martin Van Beethoven. I would recommend this album to people who either haven’t heard of him or are unfamiliar with him. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed! In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ll become a fan after hearing this album. So, what are you waiting for? Grab Black Atalanta while you can and make your way to the top…
irish Butter Dogs 