Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Zarathustra - s/t 1972

Formed in Germany in 1969, Zarathustra chose a name associated with both Nietzsche and Strauss. They were Ernst Hernzer (lead vocal), Wolfgang Reimer (guitar/vocals/percussion), Michael Just (bass/vocals), Klaus Werner (organ), and Wolfgang Behrman (drums/percussion). Throughout 1969, two of the members also were part time members of the beat group: Why Five, contributing to an obscure beat-age sampler "Ausgerecitent Bananen (Elite Special XZ LP 5105). Hardly distinguishing from other raucous progressive bands of the time, Zarathustra were still able to get a recording contract with Metronome in 1971. It seemed this label was quite open-minded when it came to signing bands, but on the other hand failed to promote their artists in a proper manner. Zarathustra were booked into the Windrose Studios in Hamburg in November of 1971 with an unknown production team of Till Landsman (producer) and Freidrick Bischoff (engineer). The resulting album was a tour-de-force of energetic heavy rock, a kind of Teutonic Uriah Heep ("Gypsy" was one of their live favorites) with some added Jon Lord like organ licks. Six great tracks with "Nightmare" as the melodic highlight. The group was not "progressive" in the sense of expanded instrumentation and arrangements, rather it was a straight power-rock album the way it used to be. Zarathustra broke up in spring of 1972.







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