KONTRUST: Madworld (OTHERS): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It's been a good nine years since Kontrust last made news. The wacky Austrian band is back in the spotlight with a fifth album, "Madworld". This comeback is marked by the arrival of two new members. Historic singer Agata Jarosz bowed out a few years after the release of their previous album, "Explositive", as did drummer Roman Gaisböck.

The new singer, Julia Ivanova, and the new drummer, Joey Sebald, join a band like no other, a true institution in its genre, adept at crossover, bringing together styles that are far apart, in particular a heavy metal sound with which folk, reggae, pop and indus elements are successfully blended. No major upheavals in the opening minutes. Julia Ivanova's vocals are as incisive, powerful and raw as those of Agata Jarosz. The two-singer formula with Stefan Lichtenberger is happily renewed... and with rage!

Listeners who have followed Kontrust since "Suicide Mission" find themselves on familiar ground. The tracks follow one another in noise and fury, with no downtime. Michael Wolff's fiery guitars rub shoulders with electronic coldness ('I Can't Control It', 'I Physically Like You'). 'The End' passes through different stylistic moods while 'U.F.I.U.' presents itself as a new explosive classic alongside 'Shut Up'. Yet beneath the glittering veneer, the Austrians have slipped in a rather severe and pessimistic vision of the world (the video for 'The End', 'Rock To Outer Past', which draws up a deplorable assessment of our Earth and the need to evolve elsewhere).

The album is shorter than its predecessors (37 minutes). Despite the timid Tyrolean vocals on 'Lederhosen Overkill', there's perhaps a little less madness on this album, as the band seem to have locked away the most demented aspect of their inspiration, as if due to their sententious concept.

Welcome to the Kontrust nave of madness, revised and corrected. Despite the change of singer and drummer, Kontrust is as incisive and original as ever, even if the Austrians are a little less crazy. - Official website

KONTRUST

MADWORLD

NAPALM RECORDS

OTHERS