Monday 26 March 2012

Review: Lautonom –Killerpilze

The band Killerpilze, come from a town in southern Germany called Dillingen an der Donau, they were formed in 2002. The band now consists of brothers Johannes ‘Jo’ (rhythm guitar and lead vocals) and Fabian ‘Fabi’ Halbig (drums) as well as their friend Maximillian ‘Max’ Schlichter (lead guitar and backing vocals). One of the original founding members – Andreas Schlagenhaft – who was also the bass player left the band in 2007.
Killerpilze are highly successful within mainland Europe but are rarely heard anywhere else. Yet despite their success it is rare for albums and their singles to reach the top ten in the music charts.

Lautonom is their third album, however it is their first under their own label – Killerpilze records. The formation of their own record label has given the band more creative control which many bands don’t receive until four or five albums down the line; also given that when the album was released the members of the band where 17, 20 and 21 respectively it is amazing that they produced an album of great quality. Even though Lautonom signifies a more mature album compared to Invasion der Killerpilze and Mit Punken und Raketen you can hear some of the immaturity from their lack of worldly experience. What they lack in worldly experience, they more than make up in music that is just addictive to the point where you think around the 40th play you might have a problem. Of the 13 track record, two songs stand out more than the rest.

The first of these two songs is Lieblingssong which translates to favourite song. Lieblingssong is a love song and its unique in that it does not sound harsh or insincere which is sometimes the case with love songs, especially those in German as it can sound very harsh to the ear. It’s not the wet blanket love song either which just doesn’t sound great. Lieblingssong has found the perfect place between insincere and overdone. The second of these two songs is Plastik. I have a love hate relationship with the song. I love it because the band is basically telling the world they won’t be this commodity like many musicians become. The hate part of the song is the end, it wasn’t necessary to have the sound of vomiting at the end of the song. There is such a thing as taking a point too far, even in music.

Overall the album is certainly worth the 41 minute listening time.
Recommended for fans of: Tokio Hotel, Blink 182, Simple Plan and Good Charlotte.


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