ALBUM REVIEW: Soldatenschicksale – Kanonenfieber
Germany’s KANONENFIEBER became a sensation in the extreme metal world when they released their debut Menschenmühle back in 2021. An anonymous solo project, started by a musician who goes by Noise, the album portrayed the pure hell of the First World War through uncompromising blackened death metal and rightfully gained widespread acclaim. The follow-up, 2024’s Die Urkatastrophe, maintained the forward momentum and was arguably even more harrowing. As we enter 2026, KANONENFIEBER are a byword for bleak, punishing war songs, and they’ve yet to put a foot wrong.
If the release of Soldatenschicksale seems quieter than its predecessors though, it’s because this isn’t the eagerly awaited third album, it’s a compilation. It collects the Yankee Division, Ubootsman, and Der Füsilier EPs, along with a few other standalone singles into one package. It doesn’t have the same unmissable factor as their previous records, but it acts as a rewarding stopgap before the next one. KANONENFIEBER’s skilled use of atmospherics works in its favour too; Soldatenschicksale doesn’t feel like a collection of odds and sods and could easily be mistaken for a “proper album.”
Opening track Z-Vor! for example, is a perfect introduction to the band. It begins with a German-language speech and inspirational martial music, before escalating into an enormously catchy four-minute anthem. It’s a furious black ‘n’ roll track, treading similar ground to bands like 1914 and BOLT THROWER, and most importantly, it sounds genuine. KANONENFIEBER’s brand of war metal is heavier than Big Bertha, but it’s also sad. Agonisingly so.
This whole record’s greatest strength is that it is profoundly tragic. Noise does riffs and blast beats like the best, but he’s also capable of channelling an incredible degree of melancholy, even if you don’t speak a word of German. There’s no heroism in the trenches, just the painful reality of an entire generation of teenagers being slaughtered for the sake of an imperialist fantasy. The two-part Der Füsilier especially is heartbreaking and conjures mental images of terrified soldiers cowering together under artillery fire.
On a purely commercial level, no this isn’t an essential release, and if you’ve already heard the original versions, it can easily be skipped. For newcomers though, this may actually be the best way to discover KANONENFIEBER. At 45 minutes, it’s their shortest full-length so far, and naturally includes some very catchy songs. It’s surprisingly accessible, even if it is one of the darkest listens to show up in our inboxes in the last year.
If nothing else, Soldatenschicksale works as a timely reminder that Noise is a highly talented musician and it has us excited about the next album. It also works as a powerful alternative to SABATON’s more bombastic depictions of the same period. Much as we love Pär Sundstrom and the boys, KANONENFIEBER’s portrayal of war is the stronger one. They’re cold, scared, their nerves are shot to hell, and they’re covered in the blood of their dead friends. This is a tough listen, but it’s beautifully done.
Rating: 8/10
Soldatenschicksale is set for release on January 30th via Century Media Records.
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