To the Power of Eight

To the Power of Eight
An image of a woman pulling a tanker ship into a port with a rope
Studio album by
Van Canto
ReleasedJune 4, 2021 (2021-06-04)
StudioKohlekeller-Studio (drums)
Stefan Schmidt's personal studio (vocals)[1]
GenreA cappella metal[2]
Length48:20
LabelNapalm
ProducerVan Canto
Van Canto chronology
Trust in Rust
(2018) 		To the Power of Eight
(2021)
Singles from To the Power of Eight
  1. "Falling Down"
    Released: 19 April 2021[3]
  2. "Raise Your Horns"
    Released: 10 May 2021[4]
  3. "Faith Focus Finish"
    Released: 1 June 2021[5]
  4. "Dead By the Night"
    Released: 9 June 2021[6][7]

To the Power of Eight is the eighth studio album by German a cappella metal band Van Canto, released on June 4, 2021, via Napalm.[8][9] It features the band's former lead singer Dennis "Sly" Schunke as guest vocalist on all tracks.[8]

Background, recording and themes

After guest singing with them live at the 2019 Summer Breeze Open Air, former lead vocalist Sly was invited as featured singer on one or two of the album's tracks, but he ended up singing all of them after the group was pleased with how the three lead vocalists sounded together.[10]

Drums were recorded in the beginning of September 2020 at Kohlekeller-Studio. Vocals were mostly recorded at Stefan Schmidt's own studio, with Ross Thompson and Jan Moritz recording their parts remotely.[1]

Album cover and title

The name of the album is a reference to it being the band's eight album and featuring eight musicians in total.[1] The cover depicts lead vocalist Inga Scharf pulling a tanker into a port; the band initially wanted to follow up the cover of their previous album Trust in Rust, so they thought of rust on verdigris in an industrial scenario. The idea of pulling something powerful came as a reference to the word "power" from the title.[1]

Song information

Of the 12 tracks of the album, eight are new and four are covers.[4]

The title and opening track was released with the album's teaser.[11] "Turn Back Time", the album's ballad, was written in 1999 by Schmidt and drummer Bastian Emig, but they decided to release it only decades later because the lyrics deal with the past.[11]

"Hardrock Padlock" was written as a tribute to the 1980s, especially songs written by Desmond Child for Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper.[11]

Release and promotion

To the Power of Eight was released as LP Gatefold, CD Digipack and on digital format.[6]

"Falling Down" was released on 19 April 2021.[3] Amon Amarth cover "Raise Your Horns" was released on 10 May 2021.[4] On 1 June 2021, they released the single "Faith Focus Finish".[5] On 9 June 2021, they released the single "Dead By the Night".[6][7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Metal Hammer (Germany)5.5/7[2]

Writing for the German edition of Metal Hammer, Sarah Angeli praised the album as a whole, criticizing only their cover of Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" for not coming "close to the original". She finished her review by saying van Canto "has again succeeded in creating an atmospheric, innovative work of art for the loop."[2]

Track listing

To the Power of Eight track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."To the Power of Eight"InstrumentalStefan Schmidt, Dennis Schunke, Ross Thompson & Ingo Sterzinger01:58
2."Dead by the Night"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt03:37
3."Faith Focus Finish"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt04:56
4."Falling Down"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt05:11
5."Heads Up High"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt03:37
6."Raise Your Horns" (Amon Amarth cover)Olavi Mikkonen, Ted Lundström, Johan Hegg, Johan SöderbergOlavi Mikkonen, Ted Lundström, Johan Hegg, Johan Söderberg04:24
7."Turn Back Time"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt & Bastian Emig03:41
8."Run to the Hills" (Iron Maiden cover)Steve HarrisSteve Harris04:00
9."Hardrock Padlock"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt03:36
10."Thunderstruck" (AC/DC cover)Angus Young & Malcolm YoungAngus Young & Malcolm Young04:52
11."From the End"Stefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt04:54
12."I Want It All" (Queen cover)Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor & John DeaconFreddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor & John Deacon03:34
Total length:48:20

Personnel

Band members

  • Ingo Sterzinger – bass vocals, backing vocals, composer
  • Ross Thompson – higher rakkatakka vocals, composer
  • Inga Scharf – lead vocals
  • Stefan Schmidt – lower rakkatakka vocals, wah-wah vocals, mixing, composer, lyricist
  • Bastian Emig – drums, backing vocals, composer
  • Jan Moritz – bass vocals, pad, backing vocals
  • Hagen Hirschmann – lead vocals, growled vocals

Guest musician

  • Philip Dennis Schunke – lead vocals, composer

Crew

  • Alexandra Weber - design
  • Gerrit Wolf - vocal editing
  • Heilemania - artwork
  • Jürgen Lusky - mastering
  • Kristian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner - drum engineering, drum mix
  • Tim Tronckoe - photography

Charts

Chart performance for To the Power of Eight
Chart (2021) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[12] 45

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kleemann, Jannik (4 June 2021). "Van Canto Heilige A-Capella-Achtfaltigkeit". Metal.de. Versus Media UG. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Angeli, Sarah (4 June 2021). "Kritik zy Van Canto TO THE POWER OF EIGHT". Metal Hammer (Germany) (in German). Axel Springer SE. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "VAN CANTO Debut "Falling Down" Music Video". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "VAN CANTO Reveals New Single And Video For AMON AMARTH Cover "Raise Your Horns"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "VAN CANTO Release New Single / Video "Faith Focus Finish"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "VAN CANTO – "Dead By The Night" Lyric Video Streaming". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b Michels, Alexandra (9 June 2021). "VAN CANTO - 'Dead By The Night'-Lyric-Video ist online". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b "VAN CANTO - To The Power Of Eight Album Due In June; Includes Covers Of Songs By IRON MAIDEN, AC/DC, AMON AMARTH, QUEEN (Teaser Video)". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  9. ^ Michels, Alexandra (24 March 2021). "VAN CANTO - "To The Power Of Eight"-Albumteaser ist online". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  10. ^ "VAN CANTO On Former Lead Vocalist DENNIS "SLY" SCHUNKE Guesting On New Album - "Van Canto Is Family"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "VAN CANTO Release To The Power Of Eight Track-By-Track Video". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Canto – To the Power of Eight" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 June 2021.