(((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))): KŸHL

Sunday, 30 April 2017

KŸHL

Band: KŸHL

Genres: Punk / Post-Rock / Hardcore / Emo / Emotive Hardcore / Screamo / Skramz / Jazz
Related artists: Audiocæneat! and Atropia.
Country: Dresden GERMANY
Years Active: 2013-present
Song: "Zivilisierte Arroganz"
Album: "Drittweltsrauma"
Year: 2016
For fans of: Amber Daybreak, Innards, Deers!, Daïtro, Pastel, Funeral Diner, ...Who Calls So Loud, Yage, The Mock Heroic, Neev, Rêche, Killed By Malaise, They Sleep We Live, Doda Lov, Lonley Animals, Yo Sbraito, Off Minor, Ogni Giorno, ByMySide, Mr. Willis Of Ohio, Todos Caerán, The Spirit Of Versailles, Yarostan, Folgore and The Truth About Dreaming aka PROPER SCREAMO.

Label(s): Tanz auf Ruinen / Dingleberry Records / Pure Heart Records / Arkan Records / My Name Is Jonas / Adorno Records / TKxPV / Trace In Maze Records / Mustard Mustache Records / Crust Baby Records / Fuck Your City Collective
This post's artist is from the April 2017 Mix. This is track #3.

You can download: the April 2017 Mix#4 right here or get the new May 2017 Mix#5 here.

KŸHL are an active band from Germany that have been releasing screamy and jazzy hardcore without resorting to distortion, heaviness nor breakdowns since 2013.

The debut, self titled 'KŸHL' EP from the band is a light and subtle screamo release. The songs rely on soft chords and rarely dip into any kind of heavy distortion. The recording quality also adversely affects the oomph that the songs might emit in a live setting, as it's pretty basic and diy. The guitars are generally strummed at very quick speeds, but lack enough variation to give the songs much depth. The vocals are definitely the most engaging aspect on this release, although the guitars, bass and drums work well to create a decent, airy yet screamy hardcore album. "Ankunft" and "Twenty-One Love Poems" are both very screamy and dreamy and jangly, with a massive 9-minute closer named "Linien der Liebenden II".

There is a noticeable difference on 2013's 'Saus & Braus', first and foremost it's a very good record and vast improvement on their debut EP. Secondly, the production is much better and the guitars, in particular, are clearly audible. The songs themselves are also more engaging and have more of an Italian feel to them, especially "Alles geht, wohin?", "Zur Quelle", "Lebendig begraben", "Rinnsal der Lebenden" and "Von Farben geblendet". "Lebendig begraben" is my personal favourite, as it rises and falls like the chest of a dying loved one and incorporates some sweet dual vocals, without being too far off from Italian screamo bands Øjne and ByMySide. Multiple screamers can be found again on "Müde", a longer track with a very dreamy ending that sounds like The Exploration cooked up a screamo jam. "..." is a deep and dark instrumental track featuring acoustic guitars and some subtle violins, I believe. The following song keeps things atmospheric as the vocals are buried in the swirling, ambient guitars, with the second half of "Schatten der Zeit" picking up and getting a little bit heavier, yet still retaining that dreamy and trippy six-string.

KŸHL released the new EP 'Drittweltsrauma' in early 2016 and again the sound is clearer and more refined than the record preceding it. I find these songs to be very jangly and loose in the way Innards and The Mock Heroic arrange their guitars, but Daïtro seems like the most obvious all-around comparison. I like the EP, but "Zivilisierte Arroganz" is unbelievable. By far the most fleshed out and accessible post-hardcore/screamo on here, the first 1:11 is spent with echoing guitars and screamed vocals that climax at 1:12 with a very groovy guitar riff. The rise and fall of the remainder of the song reminds me a lot of They Sleep We Live and Yarostan and is extremely powerful. If you are reading this, KŸHL, this shit is unreal. I really feel like this particular style fits your talents perfectly and the slower, methodical approach pays off and then some. Seriously, amazing track. I would also be a jerk not to mention that head bobbin' section from 1:30 to about 2:00 in "Klitzekleinkariert" followed by one of the band's heaviest moments to date. All in all a very good EP with an absolutely stellar third song.

Maybe we'll see something again 2018? I dunno. I certainly hope so.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2013 - KŸHL digitalEP (stream/donate/download here)

2014 - Saus & Braus cassetteLP (stream/donate/download here) [buy here]

2016 - Drittweltsrauma cassette/12"EP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2016) KŸHL - "Zivilisierte Arroganz" (from 'Drittweltsrauma')