Put your hand on your heart: It’s hardly going to be any old random stories when a band like The Fright names its latest release after one of the greatest works of world literature. The title Canto V goes back to Dante’s Inferno, in other words to the opening section of his Divine Comedy, and it documents two things: Firstly, it’s the fifth studio album by the formation from Thüringen (which explains the Roman symbol for 5), secondly, it’s a particularly special piece of work, both musically and with regard to subject matter. For, even more than on their previous releases, on Canto V The Fright perfect their greatest strengths. At the same time, their first-class songwriting once again effortlessly meets international standards, sounding as catchy as it is ambitious. As we have become accustomed, the Thuringian dark rockers’ sound derives from a wide variety of sources, from Gothic Rock legends like Bauhaus, The Cult, The Mission, Sisters Of Mercy or 69 Eyes (who The Fright toured with in 2013) to traditional hard rock à la Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, Guns N` Roses or Skid Row. “I love Sebastian Bach!” confesses singer Lon Fright, who founded the group back in 2002. Canto V is to be released on 13 October 2017 by Steamhammer/SPV, so save the date with a big fat cross in your calendar.
The afore-mentioned strengths of the five-piece band can be felt in every single note on Canto V. “In the new songs we’ve taken the vocal harmonies, which always defined the character of our music, to a new level,” explains Lon Fright, whose dark, charismatic timbre denominate the album, and whose finest ideas come to him during moments of peaceful solitude: “The perfect situation for me is when I’m chilling in the peace and quiet of my garden, developing ideas I can then record straight onto my computer.” A combination of riff ideas from his guitarists Danny and Kane, and suggested grooves from bass player Kain and drummer Luke Seven, form the typical Fright trademark: “The goal is always to produce catchy songs with a refrain people can sing along to.“ But beware: The subjects on Canto V are anything but trivial singalongs, in fact they actually deal with general questions about the meaning of life, for example in pieces like “No One,” “Leave” or “Wander Alone.” Lon Fright:
“Following recent events like the refugee crisis, renewed nationalism, the closing of borders, or demands for increased surveillance and security, these new lyrics are the most socially and politically critical I’ve ever written. But I also see them as a countertrend to all the meaningless stuff around, and not just in the mainstream.”
Canto V could by no means be fobbed off as meaningless. Each of the ten tracks shines, thanks to magnificent melodies and clever arrangements. From “Bonfire Night,” a stalwart hard rock number with a gothic twist that virtually explodes in the refrain, to the gothic rocker “Oblivion,” reminiscent of the Sisters Of Mercy and clearly inspired by the late 1980s. Perhaps the most unusual number for The Fright is the closing “In Sicherheit,” a cover of Stuttgart punk legend Fliehende Stürme. Lon Fright: “It’s the first cover of our career, and the first German-language piece on a Fright album, an homage to my punk childhood. We’re so happy to have been able to get Andreas Löhr, the singer and founder of Fliehende Stürme, as a guest musician.” And while we’re on the subject of guests: Michelle Darkness of German rock group End Of Green provides another acclaimed contribution on “Leave.”
Canto V was produced by Waldemar Sorychta at Dortmund‘s ´Waldstreet & Denroad Studios`.
“Having produced legendary discs like Wildhoney by Tiamat, Waldemar was my absolute first choice,” explains Lon Fright. “He’s worked with bands like Moonspell, Lacuna Coil and Sentenced, and is a fan of Type O Negative, so he fitted perfectly into our perspective. It’s an honour for us to have him produce our album.”
So on Canto V everything fits together – songs, lyrics, production and album title – a bit like in Dante’s tale – into a complete circle. Lon Fright: “Canto V is famously known as the first real circle of hell. If we don’t open our eyes soon and shake off our fear of all things new, we’re in danger of sinking deeper and deeper into this maelstrom.” Well, the Fright have taken a first major step out of the vortex.
Read our review here.
Line-Up:
Lon Fright – Vocals
Kain – Bass
Kane – Guitar
Danny – Guitar
Luke Seven – Drums
