Band: Katanga
Album title: Moonchild
Label: Massacre Records
Distributor: Suburban
Release date: 28/01/2011
Release: CD

The melodic gothic rock band Katanga from Greifswald, Germany, has recently signed with Massacre Records.

The band was formed 1994 and five years later they recorded their first EP called Leben. A year later their second EP Batflight followed. Their debut album Darkchild was released late 2005. Due to some small success, they already had the chance to supported bands like Knorkator, Blind Passengers, Scream Silence, Thanateros, The Cascades, Atargatis and Umbra et Imago. Their new album Moonchild will be released on January 28, 2011 via Massacre Records.

The core of the music is clearly Gothic (mixed with some more common elements to make it more commercial) and the driving force behind the band is guitarist and vocalist Mario Bauch; whose voice you’ll either love or hate. In my case, I hated it. Mario's voice constantly switches between normal and nasal when he tries to reach high notes. Like scratching a blackboard with your fingernails. But to be honest that is the only thing that bothers me about this record. Ok its Gothic, not my cup of tea but everything a good Goth album need is their. Dark atmospheres, melancholic sounds…

So you have to find out foryourselves if you can stand Mario’s voice.

68/100

Jeroen.