Counter-World Experience

Counter-World Experience
Origin Berlin, Hannover, Germany
Genres Progressive metal, Jazz metal, Experimental metal, Extreme metal
Years active 2001–present
Labels Phonector
Associated acts Pat Metheny, Meshuggah, Watchtower, Arnold Schönberg, Cynic, Death, Dream Theater
Website www.counterworldexperience.de
Members Benjamin Schwenen
Sebastian Hoffmann
Thorsten Harnitz

Counter-World Experience is a German experimental metal band formed in 2001.

History

Brian Baker

As biography Counter-World Experience quotes the following words by Brian Barker on their home page:[1]

"Jazz Metal par excellence - no holds barred!!! Since their founding in 2001, Counter-World Experience have been raising the bar in the progressive music world. The band brings Meshuggah-style grooves together with Pat Metheny-like textures, mixes them with electronic sound fragments to create a sound that is, above all, defined by guitar work in the best traditions of Dream Theater.

The musicians Benjamin Schwenen (guitars, guitar-synth), Sebastian Hoffmann (bass) and Thorsten Harnitz (drums) presented their calling card with their debut album "Always Home", and quickly began garnering recognition in the progressive scene for their sound and creative expressionism. With the following two albums "Fraktal" (2004) and "Leaving Lotus" (2007), the international press began to take notice and CWE became regarded as one of the driving points in the Jazz-Metal movement:

"Leaving Lotus is a brilliant album that is highly recommended for dedicatees of Progressive Metal" (Ragazzi) "an absolute must-buy for fans of hardcore Progressive music...heart and soul dripping from the music" (Babyblaue Seiten)

After many concerts at such prestigious locations as the Burg Herzburg Festival, the Frankfurt Music Fair, the Freakshow Artrock Festival, or as support for Matthias IA Eklundh, Counter-World Experience had the backing of a solid and ever-expanding fan-base.

Now in early 2009, Counter-World Experience are back with their fourth studio album "Metronomicon". With this release, the band demonstrates once again how challenging Progressive Metal can be, and sets a new standard for the genre."

Progarchive

Atavachron at Progarchive presents the band with the following words:[2]

The fusion of jazz-rock with heavy metal is not an easy nor readily accepted form of music, and requires players of unusual vision and abilities. Berlin trio COUNTER-WORLD EXPERIENCE have been creating such a music since their inception in Hannover, 2002. The group is composed of three of Germany's most accomplished young musicians, guitarist/synthist Benjamin Schwenen, Thorsten Harnitz on drums, and world-class bassist H.D. Lorenz. The sound is quite unique though they occasionally remind of a less grandiose PLANET X, with hints of KING CRIMSON, JOE SATRIANI and even NEBELNEST.

2002 saw their debut "Always Home", primarily a modern fusion outing. 'Fraktal', their second release in the summer of 2004, introduced electronic sounds and heavier guitar layers, bringing in strong elements of metal and high-tech synthesis. In 2006 they recorded their third, 'Leaving Lotus', described by Schwenen as "Cybernetic metal combining with smooth, Pat Metheny-like texturing."

Full of complexity, innovation and surprises, COUNTER-WORLD EXPERIENCE is a band that extends the power trio concept into the future and progresses the state of both metal and fusion.

Music for Kings (2011–2012)

On their fifth studio album ´Music for Kings´, the band demonstrates better than ever their talent at combining powerful Staccato-Riffs and extravagant solo musings with electronic sound textures and listener-friendly melodies. 2012 sees Counter-World Experience creating more material utilizing the band members´ shared roots in classical music. Both guitarist Benjamin Schwenen and drummer Thorsten Harnitz have classical studies on their resumes. This formative element is immediately apparent with the band´s first work for solo organ (´Overture - The Coronation´), and also - another first for the band - in a guest appearance by opera singers in the piece ´Trois filles du roi´. Making sure the band doesn´t lose its ties to the jazz world is bassist Sebastian Hoffmann, who through his playing ranks as one of the finest musicians in the German Jazz scene. His improvisatory solos, combined with his fluid basslines, act much as a counterweight to the classic through-composed music of the band.

Style

Progressive Jazz Metal.[3]

Members

Current members

Discography

Studio albums

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Counter-World Experience.

References

  1. ↑ "Counter-World Experience home page". Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  2. ↑ Atavachron. "Counter-World Experience biography". Progarchives. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  3. ↑ facebook. "Counter-World Experience biography". facebook. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
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