German extreme metal act Kanonenfieber have unleashed their long-awaited second album, “Die Urkatastrophe”, which officially dropped yesterday, September 20th, via Century Media Records.. Centered on the catastrophic impact of World War I, the album delivers a chilling fusion of black and death metal with historical storytelling, drawing from original letters, reports, and firsthand accounts of soldiers who lived and died in the trenches.
The release was preceded by the band’s final single, “Waffenbrüder”, accompanied by a cinematic video produced by Grupa13. The emotionally devastating track features a guest guitar solo by Maik Weichert of Heaven Shall Burn, and recounts the true story of two childhood friends who joined the Bavarian army in 1916, only for one to be killed in a shell attack. The surviving friend’s grief gave rise to a laurel, a poem of mourning, which is now included in printed form in both artbook editions of the album.
The band stated:
“This is the true story of brothers in arms. We have made the words of sorrow tangible and audible.”
Titled “Die Urkatastrophe” (“The Primal Catastrophe”), the album reflects on World War I as the starting point of a century marked by war, displacement, and human tragedy.
Noise, Kanonenfieber’s founder and sole studio musician, said:
“There is no glory in war. Everyone loses – their lives, their souls, their humanity.”
Produced by Kristian Kohle at Kohlekeller Studio (known for his work with Powerwolf, Aborted, and Benighted), the album is a raw and historically grounded exploration of individual wartime experiences. It represents a continuation of Kanonenfieber’s mission to educate through both musical brutality and emotional depth.
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1. Grossmachtfantasie 2. Menschenmühle 3. Sturmtrupp 4. Der Maulwurf 5. Lviv zu Lemberg 6. Waffenbrüder 7. Gott mit der Kavallerie 8. Panzerhenker 9. Ritter der Lüfte 10. Verdun 11. Ausblutungsschlacht 12. Als die Waffen kamen |
To mark the release of Die Urkatastrophe, Kanonenfieber delivered two powerful live performances in Germany. The first took place yesterday, on September 20th, at Party.San Herbstoffensive in Weimar. The second is being held today, September 21st, at Backstage in Munich.
The band explained:
“A call resounds like a thunderclap! The ‘Urkatastrophe’ rolls across the stages of Weimar and Munich. Both performances are accompanied by a mobile museum featuring exhibits and documents from the First World War. Guided by a historian, visitors to the events can browse postcards, military artifacts, and maps, while learning about the background of Kanonenfieber.”
Following their special appearance at the War Against War Festival in Berlin on November 8th, Kanonenfieber will embark on an extensive European tour, delivering their intense and immersive live experience to audiences across the continent. Check the tour poster below and mark your calendars!
Looking ahead to 2025, Kanonenfieber are already confirmed to appear at several of Europe’s most prestigious metal festivals. The festival run will begin in April with Inferno Festival in Norway, followed by high-profile summer appearances at Hellfest in France, Copenhell in Denmark, Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, MetalDays in Slovenia, and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Romania.
With their unrelenting sound, historical depth, and emotional resonance, Kanonenfieber continue to carve a unique path in the world of extreme music. “Die Urkatastrophe” is more than just an album. It stands as a monument to memory, loss, and the enduring human cost of war.
