Bonsai Kitten was an internet hoax (go look it up) but there’s nothing bogus about the band. They hail from Berlin and are fronted by Tiger Lilly Marleen who stakes out her territory on the opening cut Lose Your Illusion. She’s a powerful commanding vocalist, big enough to make her presence felt over the hot and hard metal behind her. Killer guitar solo on this too from André ‘Wally’ Wahlhäuser. It’s a good opener but they up the stakes considerably for the ‘sturm und drang’ of I Love That You Hate Me which is a brilliant song that sticks in your brain. Yet again ‘Wally’ is so great that your jaw hits the floor. I Wonder sees some bluesy harmonica wails competing with the full on frantic assault and Marleen’s voice. It’s breath-taking stuff it really is.
A shout out to the rhythm section Marc “Reign” Reinke (drums) and Marcus “Spoxx” Schütze (who allegedly plays a three string bass). They are the motor right at the heart of this outrageously talented band. Meanwhile Peacemaker drops down a little, just enough for a change of pace but this is still one big beast of a track. Time at last for a slower track, the bluesy shimmering groove of Smoke And Mirrors. You start to think it’s an instrumental, but it’s just a long long tasty intro and then the surprise of some delicately lovely vocals from Marleen, showing she has a lot extra in her range and style. It’s a wonderful track with a suitably big euphoric ending.
Way Back Home returns to the metal/ punk band roots, while I Want Your Love is another big switch, being a very commercial almost poppy Ramones style song with Marleen on full throttle vocals. It’s terrific and I’m sure I heard a bit of rock ‘n’ roll Farfisa organ in there. Eye Of The Storm is a clever keyboard led big number with great dynamics and passion. Land Of Fantasy has a creepy spooky intro and alluring vocals but you just know the riff and the crunch is coming. It’s an epic piece. Oddly they finish off with the title track but we can forgive them this quirk because it’s a summary of why this band needs your attention. It comes in and pulsates and delights and attacks and it’s gloriously entertaining. This is a fantastic album from a terrific band. I loved it from start to finish. No filler!
Watch the promo video for I Love That You Hate Me.
