KARBHOLZ is a German band formed in 2003. Blending rock, metal and punk with even a little grunge thrown in for good measure. Singing almost exclusively in German, they have built a following in their home area and likely play the summer festival circuit with regularity. With over a dozen releases counting live, EP and splits, Kontra is the latest in a long line. Metalville Records will release Kontra on February 26, 2021.

Heavy on the riffs, these guys are pretty serious about putting their metal foot forward while letting the other influences shine through at different times. "Nie Wieder" starts the disc off with a really nice riff. The bass and drums hold their own and drive the song forward, keeping up a nice pace throughout. This is a good lead song, showing a lot of different skill sets to showcase the overall talent of the band and their ability to write catchy songs.

My early favorite on the record is "Niemals Fallen (Never Fall)," mostly due to the cool riff and the killer beat. Going from hard and heavy to mid-tempo and closer to rock, the song weaves along and covers a lot of ground. The composition is really good, making it a really interesting song.

Jumping down, "Roter Wein" has an almost Irish folk sound to it in the beginning. Even when the song ramps up and gets heavy, it has the folksy feel to the rhythm. It brings FLOGGING MOLLY to mind, though with more bite. More than anything, it is another unique feel for a different song. KARBHOLZ is a band with a lot of influences and the skill to get all of that onto a single record.

"Der Schwarze Schwan (The Black Swan)" is another song with another sound. This is almost an acoustic ballad. If it wasn't for the heavy section that kicks in halfway through, I would absolutely say this is the records power ballad, but that is only a half truth with this song. The drop back to gentle at the end is dramatic and very well done.

KARBHOLZ is really good at writing catchy, well-played songs. With a little grittiness in the vocals, they sound a little heavier than maybe all the music suggests, but the voice fits the band. The guitarist is consistent and good, whether he is playing a heavy riff or an acoustic melody. The bass and drums just mesh with everything. The blend of sounds is cool. They go from rock to punk to metal and back with no problems.

The talent shows through from start to finish on this record. These guys have been running strong for almost two decades now and it shows. KARBHOLZ is one of those bands that may not have hit my radar before this, but they will stay on it for a while to come. This is a fun record and will stick with me. I plan to add it to my playlist in the car for the drive to and from work.