Brunhilde, named after the warrior queen Brünhild from the German heroic epos Nibelungenlied (song of the Nibelungen), is, in essence, a duo hailing form Nürnberg, Germany. This duo, vocalist Carolin ‘Caro’ Loy and guitarist Kurt Bauereiss form the foundation of this rock-and-metal band, that, if the situation calls for it, is supplemented with bassist Daniel Wicke and drummer Bastian Emig. Though having released 3 full lengths prior to this date, I have never ran into them, making this a completely neutral release. My first acquaintance with both the band and their music is not another full-length, but a four-track teaser to draw attention to the release of their upcoming new full-length that is due in February 2021. This EP, entitled Choir Boy, contains songs that will also be on that particular new full-length and was released in May of this year.
It opens with the ‘title track’ that immediately cuts to the chase and displays Brunhilde’s musical footprint from the first note onwards, which is, in my opinion, best described as old school rock with balls. Its sing-along-song bordering chorus, its spiced up tempo and ditto vocals will most certainly drag you into this song no matter how much you’ll try to resist. Not that you have a reason to resist or fight it in the first place, it is a great song by all accounts. If this is a prelude to what the rest of this release and, hopefully, the new full-length has to offer, I’m up for a treat. When succeeding song When You Were Born (I Was Already Dead) commences that does not seem to be the case, but as it turns out its ballad-like intro, just fools you for thirty seconds. Though distinctly different from the album opener, not in the last place due to the more distinct raw edge Caro has in her voice, it definitely breathes the same vibe.
As the next song, It’s All Lies, starts in a similar fashion as the previous song, one could be forgiven for thinking this one too will fire up after a short while, but again they have a small surprise up their sleeves, as this one actually is a full-blown ballad, though not a traditional power ballad. The delicate combination of piano and Caro’s vocals make this moody piece stick out like a sore thumb between the other songs on this release, but in this case that is actually to be considered a compliment. After this emotional intermezzo, although the word intermezzo is actually selling this one short, Brunhilde gets back to business as usual as the final song, Golddigger, brings back the aforementioned old school vibe.
Despite the fact this is just a teaser for their upcoming new release, I think it’s a great reflection of what Brunhilde is capable of. They offer a pleasant type of rock that will undoubtedly appeal to many fans of both rock and metal. It has a distinct and definitely catchy old-school vibe to it, not in the least due to Caro’s somewhat raw vocals, giving the songs a bit more bite. But, credit where credit is due, Caro’s vocals, though definitely characteristic, are not the only reason this is a sweet release. It in fact is a clear team effort, in which each member has an equally important part. Guitar, bass, drums, they all get a piece of the spotlight and they all use it wisely. Recommended, I’ll be sure to check the full-length once it hits the (digital) shelves.
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