Grobschnitt-Rockpommel´s Land (1977)

In 1977 came the fifth album from the German band Grobschnitt, considered by many to be one of the most brilliant progressive rock recordings ever made. Conceived as a concept album, based around the naive story of a clever young man traveling through magical lands and finding wisdom and peace of mind, it is ultimately nothing more than a palpable display of the ironic humor of this German group. On this release, the lineup; Stefan Danielak (guitars and vocals), Gerd-Otto Kühn (guitars and backing vocals), Volker Kahrs (keyboards), Wolfgang Jäger (bass), and Joachim Ehrig (drums and percussion), showcases its most symphonic and intense side, with abundant guitar riffs and solos underpinned by atmospheric synthesizers, all tied together by a cohesive concept. However, it's also true that compared to their previous releases, they lose some of their defining characteristics, such as their extroverted music and humorous lyrics, while their effective hard rock guitars become more melodic and ethereal. Despite the simplicity of its story, musically it presents an inexhaustible source of creativity, which, from the opening track "Ernie's Reise", which establishes the album's main focus, through the intricate, somber soundscape of "Severity Town", the soothing and relaxed "Anywhere", and the progressive symphonic epic "Rockpommel's Land", makes this work a sumptuous and splendid example of progressive rock from the 1970s.