Review Summary: Inspiration from many, imitation of none
Some bands struggle to separate themselves from their influences, and can end up getting called "knock-offs" or "poor man's versions" of older artists. This is especially bad if the precursor artist is a very popular one, such as Pink Floyd or Jefferson Airplane. Astrokraut don't have a problem with this, however, as they combine the influences of so many bands that they really don't need to worry about sounding like any single band in particular. With their debut, Astrokraut take psychedelic rock, stoner rock, old school prog, surf rock, and garage rock and jumble them together into a fun and diverse piece of psyche rock that will be sure to gain the band a few fans.
Astrokraut is a stoner rock band from Karlsruhe, Germany. At their core, they specialize in rhythmic fuzz-rock, as evidenced in 2012 with their Kunstoff EP. While the three songs from that EP were solid listens in their own merit, they failed to separate the band from most other bands out there. This is not much of a problem anymore, as over the course of 2 years the band has expanded its sound to include the influences of countless artists, yet at the same time develop its own distinctive sound in the process. While in the Kunstoff EP lead vocalist Max Mörmann sounded like an Ozzy Osbourne wannabe, as this time he demonstrates more versatility. On the track
Space Machine his voice shares an uncanny resemblance to that of Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant. On the track
Floating on the River, however, he lets his German accent shine through, adding a creepy vibe to the song's already dark lyrics("my soul arrives/my body dies/exploding colors in my eyes). There has also been a major shift in direction for the rest of the band as well, with a greater focus being put on Tom Schneckenhaus's drumming as well, with there being a much greater presence of such on songs like the instrumental jam
Agima.
The best thing about this album is its variety, as said before, Astrokraut takes influences from a
lot of bands. And it really shows, each song has its distinctive flavor, from Kyuss-type desert rock to the rhythm-focused jams of fellow countrymen Colour Haze to the plentiful solos of old school proggers Lucifer's friend, each song has its own distinct set of influences. But it never feels "scattershot" thanks to two key factors: a strong focus on drumming, and heaps upon heaps of fuzz. Both of which allow for a pretty consistent listen from beginning to end.
Astrokraut is a diverse, yet consistent piece of retro-rock that pays tribute to its forefathers in such a fashion that it manages to keep itself a separate entity in the process. Tight drumming, ever-present fuzz, and a lot of grooviness give the band's debut a sense of flow. The diversity between individual tracks also help keep them from being clumped in with the rest of the genre, helping them stand out from their peers.
