That PANZERBALLET mastermind Jan Zehrfeld does not shy away from difficult musical experiments - a fundamental principle that helps to guide the band's direction. After the last album 'X-Mas Death Jazz', however, one could well ask oneself if and to what extent this could be topped.
Drummer Sebastian Lanser set the bar very high with his drum arrangements, so Jan Zehrfeld came up with a new, crazy plan: to bring together the most experienced drummers within the genre/s covered. But that's not where his own reinvention ended. In addition to his own pieces, this time he recorded custom-made works by highly esteemed composers to the highest degree of perfection. A whole handful of world-class drummers from the circle of prog, jazz and fusion took part, such as those from bands including Frank Zappa, Devin Townsend, Meshuggah and Allan Holdsworth.
With 'THe Helm of Awe', Jan Zehrfeld succeeds in combining rhythmic lunacy and compositional shamelessness in one "unheard of" album. What Jan "Z" does together with drummers Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati from Planet X, and Grammy Award winner Morgan Ågren really is truly unique.
Like the musical performance, the production and sound of the album are on the highest level. Despite the completely different line-up, sound engineer Victor Bullok succeeds in creating a familair yet totally fresh-sounding album. Panzerballet's "Planet Z" is state of the art - a fascinating album, which is a must for fans of prog, jazz rock and metal.
1. Prime Time
2. Who The Jack Is Migger
3. Mind Your Head
4. No One Is Flying The Plane ~
5. Walkürenritt
6. Urchin vs. Octopus
7. Alle meine Ändchen
8. Coconut
9. SO