For some musicians, using a special instrument is a mere novelty; something to distinguish oneself without having to put in much effort. As such, their interaction with the piece of tech is shallow and serves nothing but their own vanity. Tonnen von Hall couldn’t be further from that artistically insignificant lot. The prog metal trio, consisting of German guitarists Markus Reuter and Alexander Paul Dowerk, as well as London-based Israeli percussionist Asaf Sirkis, utilize the Touch Guitar (a type of guitar specifically designed for tapping techniques) to deliver a cutting-edge sound that easily sets itself apart from the band’s contemporaries.
Weaving the sounds they wrest from these novel instruments with loops, soundscapes, and a varied percussive attack, the trio create music that feels alien and strangely familiar to even the most open-minded prog aficionados, which should make this premiere a real treat. Today, we’re unveiling the music video to “Antlitz”, the third track on Tonnen von Hall‘s début record Ein Abdruck vom Messer im Herzen, which was released in January via Unsung Records. An intense polyrhythmic approach shrouds the album in a powerful aura, its intricacies begging to be uncovered by those who dare. “Antlitz” is a great representative of this style, so brace for impact!
Technicality by itself is not impressive; using it to effectively carry your music forward is what makes or breaks your ability. Tonnen von Hall utilize their obvious chops with surgical precision, not to dazzle a simple-minded audience but to showcase the possibilities of their collective vision. “Antlitz” is both fiercely mathematical and daringly human in its shifting, seismic weight. This is intense yet precise music, tailor-made for anyone who wanted to go beyond the guitar pyrotechnics of today’s prog scene.
‘Tonnen von Hall‘s second music video, “Antlitz”, features a relentlessly mutating and splicing touch guitar riff at its heart. Drums and further touch guitars attach and detach polyrhythmically to the main motif like the shifting walls of a cyber fortress. The track builds up to enormous proportions, tossing the listener in a constant spiral of tension and escalation. The music video plays with the main themes of the album artwork, heart and knives, showing in a surreal manner how the heart of stone transforms into a heart of gold through the twisted dance of the jaw knives. Pride and anguish leave the golden heart alone on burned soil.‘
The 3D-rendered music video adds a nice visual edge to the music, as explained in the above quote. At its core, though, lies a keen reflection of the music itself, which is enough of an eye-opener to keep the listener at the edge of their seat.
Ein Abdruck vom Messer im Herzen, featuring “Antlitz”, was released on January 31, 2025; you can listen to the whole album here. I suggest supporting Tonnen von Hall if you agree that their music scratches a hitherto unknown itch! You can also check out their website, and follow them on social media (Facebook | Instagram).
