Kontrust-Explositive

Napalm Records
2014


"Explositive" is the latest release from Austria genre-mix and max/crossover rock band Kontrust. Having previously been exposed to this band's wild and crazy antics thanks to 2012's "Second Hand Wonderland" (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/04/kontrust-second-hand-wonderland.html) I sort of knew what I was getting into with the band's new album. And by that I mean that I came in expecting the unexpected! For those who know and love Kontrust no further explanation will be needed so just buy "Explositive" and be done with it. For everyone else here is the deal (or, as best as we can (seeing as this one is way left of anything resembling normal heavy metal and/or rock!) we are going to try to explain the ins and outs of this "interesting" band on paper and just by peeking at the first number on "Explositive"!). On one hand the band is hook happy and spiritually free and on opener "Dance" lead singer Agata is as lively and carefree as the music itself. The group uses bouncy beats and the track's title almost lives up to it's name. Everything is right with the world it would seem. But, then the madness starts to rear it's unnerving face! For it seems as soon as you think you've got the band or the number figured out these hard metal guitar solos hack and slash their way through the door and that party you thought you were at turns into a bloodbath! Underground trash metal riffs worm their way deep into what was otherwise a pop song causing all kinds of hell to break loose! So, it's pop rock and street lethal hard and heavy metal doing the midnight tango while the world casually burns down around them! And that's just track one for you folks! For this bizarrely bouncy band, which incidentally was formed back in 2001 out of the ashes of a group called Suicide Mission and is known for dressing up in lederhosen for some odd reason for their live shows(!), nothing is really off limits and it's the old stand-by of "let's throw everything but the kitchen sink into our music and call it a day!". When it comes to the full-length "Explositive" it's not just the the sky that is the limit but the universe itself! By utilizing unusual instrumentals and brazenly abandoning any sense of logic when it comes to song titles and song lyrics Kontrust makes unusual music for unusual people. All of which would make it sound as if this album is nonstop hilarity in the making right? Somehow it's never that simple. While there might just be some strong ideas tossed about on their latest album for Kontrust it does not exactly translate into a sure-fire winner. Yes, fans should appreciate the latest body of work from Kontrust, but it's highly that "Explositive" will be the type of album that will attract casual listeners. This has all the hallmarks of an album that would be listened to once and then put aside for something more structurally sound. And that in and of itself was the problem I had with 2012's "Second Hand Wonderland". As weirdly charming and sonically disruptive as it was to the senses it did not make for a casual "hit once and then hit repeat" release which all but ruined it's long-term worthiness. Kontrust are very much like every one's favorite kooky relative that is fun to be with on holidays, but if you were to live with him or her ALL YEAR LONG the novelty of it all would quickly wear off. In a nutshell "Explositive" was fun the first time around, but like some things in life it's never the same experience the second time around....



 You can find Kontrost online at: http://www.kontrust.info/

Kontrust: Second Hand Wonderland

Napalm Records
2012


Kontrust are one those bands where, try as hard as you may, you just can't appreciate how different they are until you actual hear them. While the promo calls them "crossover" (not crossover as in D.R.I., S.O.D., etc) for me at least that particular tag doesn't quite cover the experimental nature of the band's sound. The band was formed in 2001 (out of the ashes of a band called Suicide Mission) and on "Second Hand Wonderland" the group delivers a genre jumping mix that is highlighted by the vocal interactions of Agata Jarosz and Stefan Lichtenberger. According to Wikipedia the band is known for wearing lederhosen when they play live and while that, in and of itself, is different it's the music that counts right? First off both male and female vocals come into play on "Second Hand Wonderland". Before I get into the meat of the matter that is the one thing I really liked about the band and this album. The differences between Agata and Stefan's vocals offer a nice contrast. It is against this backdrop that the band paints wildly with it's many colors. When I say that Kontrust, which by the way translates to “butt rest”, sound like no other band I've ever heard I am being deadly serious. This album is so unique that it defies a logical description. I would say that "Second Hand Wonderland" reminds me somewhat of Mike Patton's various bands, but even that doesn't quite cut it. The best way to truly express how out there the sound is would be to suggest that you take out a blender and mix Pantera, Textures, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, System Of A Down, Ministry, Faith No More (without the funk that is), Bob Marley, Linkin Park, Weird Al Yankovic, Brujeria, Mr. Bungle, Andrew W.K., Limp Bizkit and maybe even the Melvins. Then, after your done cleaning up the mess you've just made (and yes, it will be a bit of a mess), you toss down the whole thing with a side order of (hot and spicy) weird lyrics presented in English and German. Depending on your mood (and musical tastes I suppose) the end result is either tasty or repugnant. Or maybe a little of both? Like I said, this is a hard act to describe and an even harder album to fully digest. So, if your going to check out Kontrust please be patient. Even if it does not tickle your taste buds at first give it awhile to sink in. With all of the different elements of punk, groove, ska, death metal, reggae, pop rock, industrial, heavy metal, alternative rock and polka that Kontrust have incorporated into the songs (in fact you can usually find all of those different genres in one single song!), "Second Hand Wonderland" ends up as an album that, while not brilliant, is at least interesting to the ears. Sometimes interesting music is a refreshing change even if it leaves you scratching your head in disbelief.