Skeletor

Artist: 
Album Title: 
Schöne Neue Welt
Release Date: 
Friday, April 18, 2014
Label: 
Distribution: 
Review Type: 

This Köln based German Indie Punk Rock act [not to be confused by the '90s German Power Metal band (left us only demos in 1991 and 1994), or one of the other acts by that name : the now defunkt Thrash/ Power Metal band from Alaska (founded in 1996, they left us a 2000 demo and have since disappeared), or the still existing Dutch Death Metal outfit (founded in 2004, they have so far a 2006 demo and a self-titled 2000 full-length) and the Doom/ Thrash/ Stoner act from New Zealand (who released a self-titled full-length in 2012)] was founded in late 2012 by 4 childhood friends whom, in spite of having played in other regional bands for many years now, had previously never played together before.

With Captain Planet and Herrenmagazin as the primary influences, the quartet consisting of singer/ guitarist Peter, guitarist/ backing singer Jonas, bassist/ backing singer Rene, and drummer/ scream singer Triadé constructed their songs on a melodic guitar template, while using lyrics meant to have the casual listener think about all the little things (s)he can do do better things for everyone, not immediately concerning heavier topics such as world peace or the economic crisis, but the smaller things.

Personally, I'm somewhat torn about the offering, because all 7 songs are interesting instrumentally, but in the vocal delivery (which is done in the guys' native language, by the way) the lead singer simply sings a couple of false notes too many to my taste! Of course, you're allowed to form your own opinion, but personally I prefer singing without those odd moments. That other people indeed dó have different feelings about this band was first exhibited by the Pretty In Noise-Music label, whom put the title track of this mini-album (7 songs for a total of 21 minutes, that's móre than an EP to me!) on their 2013 year compilation Gerdas Tanzcafé – uberm Tellerrand...and of course Acuity.music is now helping out in distributing the download (a CD can apparently be obtained from the band itself).

For some music by the band, I recommend you connect to the band's YouTube contributions (videos for the title track and “Graue Herren”), and an extra audio track (for “Buntstifte”) can be found at (http://) soundcloud.com/skeletor-cologne. There's a possibility that the “BandPage” section at (www.) facebook.com/skeletor.musik provides even more, but I was unable to check that out with my somewhat out-dated browser. Evidently, the band's to my taste faultiness in delivering good vocals is costing 'em points in the end rating!

82/100