Before releasing their sophomore album “Die Urkatastrophe” on Friday, September 20th, 2024 Kanonenfieber are dropping their last single and video produced by Grupa13.
Kanonenfieber about “Waffenbrüder”:
“It is the year 1916. Two best friends stand in the clothing depot of a Bavarian barracks. With chests swelling with pride, they receive their field-gray uniforms. They are going to war.
For so long, they had yearned for adventure. Even as young boys, they listened in awe to the stories their fathers told around the campfire: man-to-man combat in glorious battles. Armed with sticks, they reenacted their favorite heroes and won many a victory. Since childhood, they had been brothers in arms.
But now, in the shadow of the front and the barrage of shells, their childhood dreams begin to fade. Only the sheer will to survive and their bond of friendship keeps them alive. For now. By day they man their post, by night they shelter in the dugout—nothing can separate them. Almost nothing, for the enemy artillery has the power to tear apart iron, flesh, and even the strongest of bonds. So it happens that during the spring offensive, a shell strikes the foxhole occupied by the two friends, taking one of them down into the earth with it. And there he remains, the brother in arms, buried in foreign soil, as far from home as one could ever be.
The surviving friend, deeply stricken by grief over the loss, composed a laurel for his fallen comrade. And those words of sorrow have been made tangible and audible. This is the true story of brothers in arms.”
And this very laurel can be found as a printed copy in both artbook versions of the album.
As a bonus Maik Weichert from Heaven Shall Burn contributed a guitar solo to the song.
Regarding “Die Urkatastrophe”:
“The First World War accelerated the path to modernity and is considered the ‘Die Urkatastrophe’ (= ‘primal catastrophe’) of the 20th century, which was characterized by wars, violence and displacement. Around 17 million people, soldiers and civilians lost their lives, large parts of Europe were destroyed and unresolved problems were left behind, which led to further violent conflicts. This album is dedicated to the victims of the First World War, so they are not forgotten. May their fates be a warning for all following generations even after more than 100 years”,
says Noise, who records all instruments in the studio and who is also responsible for the concept of Kanonenfieber.
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1. Grossmachtfantasie 2. Menschenmühle 3. Sturmtrupp 4. Der Maulwurf 5. Lviv zu Lemberg 6. Waffenbrüder 7. Gott mit der Kavallerie 8. Panzerhenker 9. Ritter der Lüfte 10. Verdun 11. Ausblutungsschlacht 12. Als die Waffen kamen |
As with its predecessor, Kanonenfieber’s second album “Die Urkatastrophe” is based on factual reports, letters and original documents from the surviving and deceased soldiers from the First World War. Its intent is not to glorify, because there is no glory in war. Everyone loses – their lives, their souls, their humanity. War is often depicted in an abstract way, through numbers and statistics. Kanonenfieber aim to tell the stories of the nameless and the faceless in order to allow for a small glimpse of their personal horrors, and thereby the larger scale horror for mankind as a whole.
Kanonenfieber’s black and death metal isn’t meant to solely entertain, but also educate and raise awareness against the glorification of war. “Die Urkatastrophe” was recorded with Kristian Kohle (Powerwolf, Aborted, Benighted and many more) at Kohlekeller Studio, and features guitarist Maik Weichert of Heaven Shall Burn on the song “Waffenbrüder”.
Kanonenfieber are playing two release shows:
Sept. 20, 2024 – (DE) Weimar – Herbstoffensive
Sept. 21, 2024 – (DE) Munich – Backstage
At the two shows, Kanonenfieber will not only be presenting a new show. The band explains:
“A call resounds like a thunderclap! The ‘Urkatastrophe’ rolls across the stages of Weimar and Munich. Both performances are accompanied by a mobile museum featuring exhibits and documents from the First World War.
Guided by a historian, visitors to the events can browse postcards, military artifacts, and maps, while learning about the background of Kanonenfieber.”
After the War Against War Festival in Berlin, the band will go on an extensive European tour:
Nov. 8, 2024 – (DE) Berlin – War Against War
Contra proudly presents:
Kanonenfieber tour 2024
Nov. 16, 2024 – (DE) Leipzig – Hellraiser
Nov. 17, 2024 – (PL) Gdansk – Drizzly Grizzly
Nov. 19, 2024 – (AT) Vienna – Flex
Nov. 20, 2024 – (HU) Budapest – Barba Negra
Nov. 21, 2024 – (PL) Krakow – Hype Park
Nov. 22, 2024 – (CZ) Prague – Club Storm
Nov. 23, 2024 – (DE) Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
Nov. 24, 2024 – (NL) Utrecht – De Helling
Nov. 26, 2024 – (UK) London – The Dome
Nov. 27, 2024 – (FR) Paris – Petit Bain
Nov. 28, 2024 – (CH) Pratteln – Z7 Konzertfabrik
Nov. 29, 2024 – (AT) Dornbirn – Conrad Sohm
Nov. 30, 2024 – (BE) Kortrijk – DVG Club
Dec. 2, 2024 – (SE) Stockholm – Kollektivet Livet
Dec. 3, 2024 – (NO) Oslo – John Dee
Dec. 4, 2024 – (DK) Copenhagen – Pumpehuset
Dec. 5, 2024 – (DE) Magdeburg – Factory
Dec. 6, 2024 – (DE) Bremen – Aladin
Dec. 7, 2024 – (DE) Frankfurt – Batschkapp
Dec. 8, 2024 – (DE) Nuremberg – Hirsch
