Friday, 22 November 2024

Astral Kompakt - Goldader (Album Review)

 

Release Date: November 22nd 2024. Record Label: Tonzonen Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Goldader - Track Listing:

1.Pirsch 06:24

2.Goldader 07:41

3.Welwitschie 05:14

4.Batavische Träne I 05:04

5.Batavische Träne II 05:11

6.Ruin 04:48

7.Levitas 06:19


Members


Marc - Bass

Julian - Drums

Roniel - Guitar


Review


Instrumental Stoner Rock outfit Astral Kompakt weave their own sense of creative sensibility for their highly inventive debut album Goldader which sees the band add layers of Psychedelic Fuzz with the cosmic style of Stoner Rock/Metal the band have at their disposal. There’s a jagged Progressive movement that appears within their music that’s quite jarring to hear when you first listen to the album, though this becomes one of the most powerful aspects of the record.


With a flamboyant style of Post-Rock and Ambient Rock appearing from time to time which allows the more mellow and quieter parts of the album to truly shine which comes into great effect on the exquisite opening track of Pirsch. The sound can be described firmly as Sludgy Space Rock at the best of times with Astral Kompakt adding a massive weight of trippy Instrumental sounds that gives the band quite a dynamic flair which sets the scene for the rest of the album.


Second track Goldader is quite a left-field track with the band employing a fusion of Jazz, Psych, Post-Rock and Desert Rock sounds for a more smoother style of music which only lasts for a few moments before Astral Kompakt return to their dominant Psych Stoner Metal sound. There’s a hidden FUZZ ROCK agenda lurking in the background which gives an extra crunch of HEAVY VOLUME even within the quieter moments. 


One of my favourite underground producers and performers Jan Oberg (EARTHSHIP and GRIN) adds his  masterful production and recording talents by producing, mixing and recording the whole thing. This adds another level of heaviness to the mix which makes the record sound even better especially within the more experimental and dynamic passages that Astral Kompakt play on the later stages of the record.


Third track Welwitschie is pure Cosmic and Space Rock chaos with Astral Kompakt once again playing their own blend of trippy Psychedelic movements with intricate Prog Rock beats that’s spliced with a thrilling Sludge Metal dynamic. This allows this to be one of the standout tracks on the album with the band excelling mostly on the slower parts of the song which brings a muscular drive to the whole album.


For the next two tracks Astral Kompakt offer a heavy two part musical opus entitled Batavische Träne I and Batavische Träne II that sees a more straightforward  style of Doom/Stoner Rock appear with the band still allowing themselves the time to develop some well executed experimental Progressive moments along the way. The abstract Sludge Rock swagger once again is kept very low key and only appears when the time calls for it. The Post-Rock sensibilities of the album sees the band play a subtle style of Jam based Instrumental Rock/Metal with superb Cosmic Rock grooves throughout.


The final two tracks of Ruin and Levitas once again sees Astral Kompakt play with a intriguing stop/start approach with moments of Cosmic fluidity having a slightly Post-Doom and Post-Rock perseverance which is perhaps the heaviest parts of the whole album especially on the sublime final track of Levitas. 


Goldader is a wonderfully poetic record with flashes of true originality appearing throughout whilst remaining true to the core sounds of the underground Instrumental Stoner Rock/Metal scene. I’m going to have to say this is my favourite instrumental album I’ve heard this year and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Give this album a chance and you’ll no doubt be surprised by what you hear.


Awesome. End Of.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Creative Eclipse PR for the promo.


Goldader is now available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Tonzonen Records.


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