SUCKER PUNCH'D

This album is the result of a fruitful writing partnership between guitarist Azhar Kamal, born in Karachi, Pakistan, and vocalist John Jones from Detroit, USA. Concerning the whole process, while starting in 2021, the music was written first, and then lyrics and melodies were created in the aftermath. Conceptually this evolves with the rather rare approach to deal with boxing themes, exemplarily let's say Muhammad Ali and his 1974 fight in Zaire. The initiating title track was the first Kamal started to compose, what formed the album's context furthermore. The entire songs then were recorded in Munich under live-in-the-studio circumstances. Approved by some existing video sequences by the way.

The line up also sees Horst Polland (bass) participating, as well as drummer Tommy Eberhardt, also known for playing with the German band Blind Ego. The use of a celesta means a special exception here. Besides that the music is very much focused on the varied guitar playing. Main influences are coming from King Crimson, Zappa, or Allan Holdsworth according to some instrumental solos. Not simply superimposed the music is concipated for corresponding. And so accompanied by charming vocals and atmospheric synths the rhythm of the track Skip actually is deduced from rope skipping while warming up.

Occasionally references to Asian Folk are shimmering through, exemplarily to name Boma Yè. The album grows with every minute, and I especially find the finals of the particular tracks really thrilling. Accordingly the closing track Blow will mark the highlight, everytime I'm listing, touching, simply perfect. The song characteristics are intensively inspired by watching sparring during box training. Overall the band name fits the approach like a glove on this occasion. As it is with nearly every eclectic flavoured progressive rock output, this will take several listening rounds to prove its covered brilliance.