01. I Just Want To Be A Sound
02. Hysteria
03. Regeneration
04. Let Me Be A Shadow
05. Sunday Mornings
06. Scar On My Guitar
07. Strange Thoughts
08. Truth
09. Star
10. Until The End
Should I choose psychedelic rock if I Just Want To Be A Sound?
Kadavar are a German stoner rock band formed back in 2010 by guitarist/vocalist Christoph “Lupus” Lindemann and drummer Christoph “Tiger” Bartelt. Three years later, Simon Bouteloup joined as bassist and the band ventured forth as a trio up until 2023, when latest edition guitarist/keyboardist Jascha Kreft was added their ranks. This foursome now introduces their eighth full-length offering, I Just Want To Be A Sound.ย The band’s style has somewhat changed over the course of their discography, but their sound here remains based in stoner rock infused with 60s and 70s psychedelia, with Led Zeppelin, Hawkwind, Black Sabbath, and The Doors considered major influences.ย
This latest effort does nevertheless vary from previous releases, as they shy away from their nostalgic fuzzy-toned roots and opt for a more diverse and adventurous songwriting approach, with an immaculately refined and refreshing production to back it up.ย The compositions are crafted with precision and evenly balanced between light and heavy sections, while the melodies and vocal harmonies are catchy but subtle enough not to come across as too poppy, in a manner that will likely suit many metal heads. The rhythm section is the main driving force, ahead of the synths and guitars that seem to work in equal harmony with each other. The bass is sharp, crystal clear, and heavily pulsates, while the drums combine complexity with style without overdoing it on either front. The vocals have an emotional depth, and shift regularly from front to back in the mix; sometimes they’re distorted in an alternative rock/grunge fashion, while are at other times presented echoing in the background behind the instrumentation in a more dreamy, psychedelic kind of way.
“I Just Want To Be A Sound” is a great opener in the sense that it’s light, catchy, and pleasantly uplifting, with melodies that hook you early on. However, the band starts to delve into a more experimental side especially in the later stages of the record; “Star” for instance, has an interesting touch of 60s psychedelia, and Pink Floyd‘s early Gilmour work particularly, the solo, vocals, and spacey synth work all playing a major factor in this. “Truth” then fast-forwards a few years into the early 70s Krautrock scene with trippy sci-fi synths, distortions, lightly progressive structures, and hypnotizing rhythms in the vein of Can and Neu.
Kadavar are an acquired taste for most psychedelic/stoner fans as they don’t follow usual genre methods; instead they’ve developed a sound and style of their own. Their albums are known for growing on you over time rather necessarily wowing on first listen, and this latest album is certainly no different; in fact, their approach has veered even further off route than their previous output. However, when everything sinks in you’ll find it’s their most mature and accomplished release to date. It isn’t riddled with fancy fuzzy riffs, lengthy solos, or heavy-psych distortion, and it doesn’t have the most unique or groundbreaking sound to fully match the album’s title, but it’s an enjoyable and often relaxing listen, and still maintains that element of charm that has given the band their identity.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 7 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 9 |
 |
Written on 27.05.2025 by
Feel free to share your views. |