Released in 1974 on bacillus records, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament” is the third studio album by German band Karthago and marks a decisive turning point in the group’s musical development. While the band’s earlier recordings combined Progressive Rock, Jazz influences and Latin-inspired rhythms, this album presented a more focused, internationally oriented sound built around strong songwriting, sophisticated arrangements and exceptional musicianship.
Founded in Berlin by guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter Joey Albrecht and bassist Gerald Luciano Hartwig, Karthago had already established itself as one of the most accomplished German Progressive Rock groups of the early 1970s. By the time of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament,” the band’s lineup featured Albrecht, keyboardist Ingo Bischof, percussionist Thomas Goldschmidt, drummer Konstantin Bommarius and former Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick, whose arrival attracted considerable international attention.
Recorded in November 1974 at the renowned Chipping Norton Studios in Oxfordshire, England, the album was produced by Peter Hauke together with the Hudalla brothers. The recordings were mixed by acclaimed engineer Geoff Emerick, whose work with The Beatles had already secured his place among the most respected studio figures of the era. Contemporary reports describe “Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament” as the most extensively prepared album in the band’s history and an intentional attempt to reach a broader international audience.
Musically, the album moves away from the more exploratory Krautrock and Jazz-Rock tendencies of its predecessors in favour of a polished blend of Progressive Rock, Melodic Hard Rock, Funk-infused grooves and Symphonic touches. Tracks such as “Hard-Loving Woman,” “We Gonna Keep It Together” and the title track showcase Joey Albrecht‘s distinctive guitar work and songwriting, while the band’s tight ensemble playing gives the record a confidence and accessibility rarely achieved by German Rock groups of the period. Several reviewers and historians have described it as one of the most internationally competitive German Rock albums of the mid-1970s.
Within Progressive Rock circles, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament” is often regarded as the album that best captured Karthago‘s ambition to bridge German Progressive Rock with contemporary Anglo-American Rock production standards. At the same time, it remains unmistakably connected to the bacillus records catalogue through its combination of musical sophistication, adventurous spirit and technical excellence.
The album’s memorable artwork was created by Helmut Wenske, whose visual work became closely associated with both Bellaphon and bacillus records throughout the 1970s.
Originally released in 1974, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament” stands today as one of the defining achievements of Karthago‘s career and one of the most accomplished Rock productions ever released on bacillus records.
This release is part of the bacillus records archive on Bandcamp.
Purchase “Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament” on Bandcamp: https://bacillusrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-testament-1974
Tracklist:
01. Hard-Loving Woman 03:38
02. We Gonna Keep It Together 05:12
03. Now The Irony Keeps Me Company 03:21
04. Rock ‘N’ Roll Testament 04:23
05. The Creeper 04:02
06. Back Again 04:03
07. Sound In The Air 05:08
08. Highway Five 03:43
09. For Kathy 03:02
10. See You Tomorrow in the Sky 03:45
Lineup:
Joey Albrecht / Vocals, Guitars
Ingo Bischof / Keyboards
Glenn Cornick / Bass
Thomas “Tommy” Goldschmidt / Percussion
Konstantin Bommarius / Drums
Additional Vocals:
Vicki Brown
Barry St. John
Joanne Williams
Produced by:
Peter Hauke
Cornelius Hudalla
Marcellus Hudalla