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Coppelius are special, they don't use the usual instruments you expect from a rock or metal band - okay, they use drums - and their outfit makes them look like they are coming from the 19th century with their frocks and top hat. Zinnober is the 3rd album from the Berlin-based band.
The intro is like a sound track to the beginning of a Coppelius show, coz you hear their butler Bastille cleaning, then he starts whistling an melody. The band joins in for Diener 5er Herren, a track where Bastille talks about the daily routine of a butler. The Coppelius' sound differs from other mediaeval bands, coz they don't use bagpipes. Cello, clarinets and contra bass dominate the sound of this happy tune. A bit darker is Der Handschuh, an up-tempo track which has a dash of Apocalyptica due to the cello, but at the same time they sound totally different. Lyrically it's about a gauntlet - and the protagonist who misses the duel as he oversleeps. With I Told You So they present a track with English lyrics. It's a sostenuto track which has a jazzy edge and fades out wistfully. Btw, in the booklet the lyrics are accompanied by drawings.
With Risiko they present one of the highlights, the danceable beat combined with a catchy vocal line sang by the three gentlemen and their butler. After Gumbagubanga they offer Damen which cites 70's art rock, but it's the prominent bass which makes this one stick out. Der Feuerwehrmann is a mid-paced 'heavy metal' tune, but due to the instrumentation you can't compare it with any classic heavy metal release. And perhaps the weakest tune at Zinnober... Another highlight is Stetig Fromm which is a melancholy balladesque tune with cembalo. Just beautiful. The opening part of Klein Zaches is ELP-ish, but then they pick up speed and present a kind of progressive rocker based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann's story Little Zaches, Called Zinnober. As Coppelius seems to love Hoffmann it isn't far-fetched to say the album title is also inspired by Hoffmann. It's a very heavy track with an aggressive edge and the following Ein Automat seems to be a happy track - but it isn't. A rocker with a fat groove. The ecclesiastical chant of Vergessen shows a different facet of Coppelius, the a capella tune is more a short intermezzo then a full song, and so they soon head into the instrumental Genghis Khan where they show some of their love to Iron Maiden. With Coppelius hilft! the vocals are back. It's a catchy up-tempo rocker with slow melancholy passages, actually a good song to check out Coppelius, if you aren't familiar with them. The closer is called Ade mein Lieb and it's a sad balladesque one which is based on a traditional. A good way to end Zinnober.
Fans of Coppelius won't be disappointed and fans of unique sounds should give it a try, too. Coppelius present a very interesting album which should convince more people to listen to Chamber Core!
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