(K) The Music Encyclopedia of The Gravis Sub Humus


Krokodil: (SAME) 1969, SWAMP 1970, AN INVISIBLE WORLD REVEALED 1971, GETTING UP FOR THE MORNING 1972, SWEAT & SWIM 1973


This is an unusual & special entry to be certain. Krokodil (German for Crocodile) were a band from Switzerland that played predominantly in Germany during the German or "Kraut" Heavy Rock & Prog movement that came of age in the 70s. The music they played was extremely diverse, ranging from Psychy Pop, to Blues(ish) Rock to what would certainly be an appropriate inclusion in this data base of Heavy Rock of various sorts. Their one and only time period official album release that really merits mention here is nothing short of a masterpiece. The album is entitled An Invisible World Revealed and it certainly lives up to it's name. Containing all kinds of exotic ethnic influence and superb recording technique, this album hails as what might be the best Psychedelic/Progressive/Experimental Rock recording to ever come out of the aforementioned "Kraut" scene. If your thing is a "Heavy Trip" of a recording, this album HAS to be heard and will anything but disappoint. It's also well worth pointing out that early taped sessions have been recently released for the first time of Krokodil. These have been released on CD and are entitled "The Psychedelic Tapes". These recordings are very much of the same spirit and texture that An Invisible World Revealed consisted of. All of Krokodil's material has been reissued by the top notch "Second Battle" record label.

Krokus: (same) 1976

Anything that anyone knows about the Hair Metal metal that this band would go on to successfully become, can throw that out the window right now. This first LP from the band that would soon be headed in commercial westerly direction is some of the best progressive heavy rock these ears have ever heard. This album contains numerous rich influences. One of which is a very unlikely attribution via the guitarist, who brings, (believe it or not) a very Western, almost southern Duane Allman styling to this musically progressive round table of of an album. This is NOT to say this is some Lee Pickens type album, but rather it's a much more adept and truly progressive rendering with a distinct European richness. Continuity is upheld in what is a fast paced listening adventure amid super competent & diverse music. There are both moments of sincere sadness and triumph as well as fantastically conveyed imaginative fun. In a most satisfying sense, the album just doesn't potentially "let up" from start to finish & is certainly an obscure progressive classic "in the wings". One odd thing is that Pokora's book gives this 1 disc in terms of it's rarity rating, but it's quite unusual to see the album sell for much less the 300 USD. M- copies normally fetch closer to 400.00. A legit CD/LP reissue is WAY overdue.