Birth Control

The second album from Birth Control, originally released in 1971, captures the band at a crucial turning point - moving from their blues-rock foundations into far more adventurous progressive and experimental territory. Led by vocalist Bernd Noske, with Bruno Frenzel on guitars and keyboards, Reinhold Sobotta on drums, and Bernd Koschmidder on bass, the group delivered one of the most powerful statements in early German rock.

Operation showcases Birth Control's remarkable ability to blend heavy, almost proto-metal riffing with complex progressive arrangements and jazz-influenced improvisation. Noske's distinctive vocals - raw, urgent, sometimes almost threatening - cut through dense walls of fuzzed guitars and swirling organ. The rhythm section drives with relentless energy, creating a foundation solid enough to support the band's more experimental excursions without ever losing momentum.

What sets this album apart from both their German contemporaries and British prog acts is its sheer visceral power combined with genuine sophistication. Tracks shift unpredictably between crushing heaviness and delicate, almost chamber-like passages. Frenzel's guitar work ranges from searing solos to intricate, classically-informed lines, while his keyboard contributions add layers of texture that push beyond standard rock conventions.

This is essential listening for anyone exploring the heavier side of krautrock - music that bridges the gap between the blues-based rock of Amon Düül II and the progressive ambitions of bands like Triumvirat. Birth Control carved their own path, and Operation remains their most focused and powerful statement.