One thing is for sure...these German guys must be really crazy! It is difficult to characterize them because in every song they have a different playing style of music. Stoner Rock, Death Metal, Punk, groovy rhythms, Folklore elements and harmonic melodies always combined with the power of Heavy Metal. That's all contained within the songs of Die Apokalyptischen Reiter.
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter were founded in the middle of '95. In May of '96 they recorded their first demo, Firestorm and released it a few weeks later. In 1997 they signed a contract with Acre Metalli Records and released their debut album, Soft And Stronger. In 1999 they signed a contract with Hammerheart records. Finally, they signed with Nuclear Blast in 2002. Their previous album, Have A Nice Trip, closed out a cover version of Manowar's Master Of The Wind. Samurai is their fifth studio album recorded at Antfarm Studios in Denmark throughout July and August of 2004.
Thirteen songs and each one of them having its own spot. The third song, Rock'N'Roll is my favourite because its so groovy it reminds me of early seventees Rock, amazingly mixed with Death Metal and some Punk marks (note that I'm not a fan of Punk music...). The eighth song, Per Aspera Ad Astra is also remarkable for the great harmonic melodies it has and the great melodic solo. Lazy Day is a soft Rock song which is just like as if I'm listening to the neighbor's radio play loud on a Sunday morning (you know...couples in love, birds singing, acoustic guitars etc). Hey Ho makes your wildest side come out. And the last song, Northern Lights is an outro for this album which will calm your ears after all these crazy moments.
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter has the Rock groovyness of Cathedral and also reminds of the German folkrore band In Extremo, together with Punk and Death Metal. Listening to this album guarantess for sure that it will never let you feel bored, 'cause of the variety of so many sounds it includes.
- Album Highlights: Rock'N'Roll, Per Aspera Ad Astra and Hey-Ho