TRACK LIST:
1. Tropfen 5:38
2. Gedanken 5:19
3. Eine Liebe, Tausend Leben 7:18
4. Abendlied 2:27
5. Sehnsucht 6:21
6. Gebet 2:57
7. Steig Herab 4:22
8. Mantra 5:32
LINE UP:
Christian Roscher - vocals
Christoph Kastner - guitars, vocals
Marius Leicht - keyboards, vocals
Andreas Sittig - bass, vocals
Sascha Bormann - drums
with:
Helena Leicht - vocals
Rebecca Luise Scholer - vocals
Weltklang Chor - vocals
Prolusion.
German band Polis has been an active entity in the German rock scene for the better part of a decade as a live and recording band, releasing their first studio album back in 2011. Since then a further two studio productions have appeared. The album "Weltklang" is the most recent of these, and was released through German label Progressive Promotion Records in 2020.
Analysis.
Polis is one of those bands where a discussion can be had in terms of which subcategory of progressive rock it will be most appropriate to place them in, with two standout options and a third possibility easy coming to mind based on the material of this production. A common denominator is that the material comes with a bit of a retro and vintage sounding touch to it though, and as far as initial reference points this is probably just as important as the specific form they explore in terms of giving an initial description.
The majority of the material here comes with a few recurring elements. Just about all the songs feature some variety of hard progressive rock with psychedelic flavoring that often comes with a bit of a symphonic progressive rock swagger and usually also something of a stoner rock undercurrent. Tight, hard and vibrant psychedelic rock with a prominent organ inclusion is perhaps the best manner in which to describe this type of arrangement. The greater variation from one song to the next is what we are served in between these sequences, as well as how dominant these harder parts are in the first place: In a few of the compositions this harder aspect of the band is very much the lesser or minor presence.
Hence we are provided with songs featuring more careful and borderline ambient sequences sporting either a symphonic progressive flavoring or a cosmic touch - or a combination of those. One one occasion the bands takes a left turn into jazzrock territories, and in another one-off maneuver we get a song that kicks off in more of a David Bowie oriented manner. While the concluding creation 'Mantra' comes with a small galore of vocals and musical tribal details that is very much appropriate for a song given this name. That we also find a delicate piano and vocals ballad has been added to the track list probably merits a mention too.
While I find all the various aspects of this production to be both charming and appropriate myself, there are two elements present that may be a divisive feature for some: The lead vocals are fairly distinct, and have a tone, timbre and delivery that is a little bit on the uncommon side of matters. To my ears the vocals fits the music very well in this case, and technically there's nothing to fault either, but distinct vocals tend to be detrimental to a lesser or greater extent and thus merits a mention. And for those that have an exclusive preference for English lyrics, this is a band you will have to miss out on. The lyrics here are in German.
Conclusion.
I find "Weltklang" to be a vibrant, creative and expressive production that comes with a ton of retro and vintage charm while also exploring the landscapes of hard progressive rock in an accessible and welcoming manner. This is an album that should have an appeal among fans of vintage hard rock and psychedelic rock just as much as within the progressive rock universe, and I regard this production as something of a must listen for those who tend to enjoy all three of these styles of music. A charming, solid and well made example of vintage oriented hard progressive rock.
Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room
