PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Megalomania is the fourth album from five piece German hard rock band Kissin’ Dynamite. Formed in 2007 the band released their first album ‘Steel of Swabia’ in 2008, taking the name of the region in Germany they hail from. Since then their career has delivered two further albums before this one, chart success, and over 500 live dates spanning Europe and Asia.
DNA opens the album with an unforgettable punch. So infectious are the chunky riffs, a simple but big chorus to sing along to and all held together with a smattering of techno, that the first track deserves a second play (and third…). Combine a gritty but strong vocal performance and this album has opened well, I am hoping – no praying – that this quality can continue!
‘Maniac Ball’ and ‘VIP In Hell’ really do go hand in hand bringing a darker theme with them, lyrics covering angels and demons and the unforgettable catchy chorus ‘I’m gonna be a VIP in hell!’. The sounds here are starting to show some of the gothic & industrial influences that German bands do so well, even the drumming speed has taken it up a notch or two almost bordering on power metal. Hannes Braun does start mixing in some vocals that verge on rap at times, but make no mistake this is hard rock that I couldn’t help but chant along to.
So then we meet the first ballad of the album and after the heavy sounds of the previous tracks, the intro to Firefly is a complete curveball with its mellow guitars and almost orchestral opening. This moved into a solid offering with a strong vocals, crisp acoustic sounds mixed with electric solos made for thoroughly pleasurable listening.
With Firefly having brought the mood down ‘Deadly’ hits with nearly the same punch that ‘DNA’ opened the album with. This track has dance floor written over and mixes the industrial sound with the more sleazy feel found in the bands material. The only slight disappointment is how short the track is, but that does mean that full on synth laden industrial track ‘God In You’ arrives sooner, which is good. You could easily imagine Marilyn Manson laying some of these vocals down, backed by fast riffs, heavy use of keyboards and a pounding beat. Where previous tracks dipped a toe in the industrial pool this one jumps right in.
Not content with leaning towards industrial genre, we get the thundering hard rock rollercoaster ‘Running Free’ to sing along to, which then leads into ‘Legion of the Legendary’. This song draws clear influences from nu metal of the early 00’s, even down to the scratching, while still remaining fresh and melodic enough not to put rock fans off. With a piano intro ‘The Final Dance’ is the second ballad on the album, while still staying mellow the lyrics venture into a final dance before being apart forever.
The album could very well have ended there, but Kissin’ Dynamite chose to finish on a high with Ticket to Paradise. Plenty of distorted electro, chunky bass groove, catchy hooks and a huge chorus this is a track that will stick in your mind long past the final bars.
The band have clearly taken a few risks with this release, however the elements and influences come together perfectly to keep this album modern and original. The production quality of the album if faultless, punchy and bass and crisp guitars with just enough electro to keep it fresh and a vocal track that is neither overpowered or lost.
The results are a breath of fresh air in the hard rock genre and being unlike anything I have heard makes me want to listen again, and again.
Megalomania is released by AFM Records and will be available to buy or download on the 5th September 2014.
Tracklist
1. DNA
2. Maniac Ball
3. VIP In Hell
4. Fireflies
5. Deadly
6. God In You
7. Running Free
8. Legion Of The Legendary
9. The Final Dance
10. Ticket To Paradise
Lineup
Hannes Braun – Vocals
Jim Müller – Guitar
Ande Braun – Guitar
Steffen Haile – Bass
Andreas Schnitzer – Drums
- 13.99
