Kadavar release second single and music video ‘Hysteria’ from upcoming album

Berlin, Germany – Berlin based rock band Kadavar have shared the second single from their upcoming new album ‘I Just Want To Be A Sound’ out May 16 via Clouds Hill.

“Hysteria” – with its pulsing, dark rhythm brings the listener into a hypnotic state of mind. Its lyrics explore themes of mental and physical disarray, portraying a sense of confusion, overstimulation, and self-destruction. The repeated refrain of “Hysteria” adds to the overwhelming, frantic atmosphere, spiraling under pressure.

“We wrote this song down from the feeling of words losing their meaning, when even a stream of consciousness can’t keep up to make sense of the inner chaos” says the band “As a state mixed with constant overstimulation and terrifying news, it might just fit this time we’re living in”.

“We teamed up with our friend James Barry and award-winning DOP Lucas Fiederling, developing the idea of a dystopian fever theme” adds the band on the new music video “It serves as an extended trailer for a fictional film about a virus that drains the life from humanity through “smart” technologies. His main inspiration was Tetsuo: The Iron Man. We shot the video on the coldest days of the year – but it was worth it!”.

“Hysteria” follows the single “I Just Want To Be A Sound” – the title track of Kadavar’s new album – released last month upon the album’s announcement. The song was added to top playlists with Spotify, Apple, Deezer and TIDAL, gaining traction on lists like Metal Injection’s Top Tracks of the Week, Fresh Noise, New In Rock, Hot New Rock and more.

Fans can stream the track on digital platforms here and watch the official music video for the song here. The video was directed by Maximilian Wiedenhofer and features Caelian del Mare, a highly acclaimed young German/Turkish actor and model from Berlin.

‘I Just Want To Be A Sound’ is a manifesto for freedom, transformation and radical presence. An album that repeatedly abandons itself in order to reincarnate in new forms. Rock anthem, ballad, pop song, epic and earthly alternate seamlessly and virtuously. Free and full of momentum.

Now a four-piece led by founders Lupus Lindemann and Tiger Bartelt, and rounded out by guitarist Jascha Kreft and bassist Simon ‘Dragon’ Bouteloup, the declaration “I Just Want To Be A Sound” came from Bouteloup. When Lindemann Bartelt asked him in 2013, shortly after Lindemann and Barlet joined the band, why he didn’t have any social media accounts, he replied: “I just want to be a sound.” A sentence that stuck – and that sums up the band’s self-image. What was casually formulated at the time has developed into a leitmotif over the band’s 15-year history: an uncompromising claim that demands nothing less than to be completely absorbed in the sound without being distracted by outward appearances. A principle to which Kadavar have remained true since their formation in 2010 and which finds its strongest development to date with this album.

“I Just Want To Be A Sound” is more than a song to us – it’s the essence of Kadavar: A relentless yearning for freedom and the unshakable urge to live through music. We poured everything into it – our lives, our spirit, our truth,” says the band in a joint statement.

Kadavar has undergone a significant transformation on this path of sound development. From credible representatives of retroesque, psychedelic stoner rock – which always thrived on the contemporary coolness of Berlin, the city where Lupus and Tiger met in the hedonistic noughties – they soon ventured out into the big wide world. They not only showcased their musical ideas on stages in countless countries but also found new inspiration. While Kadavar initially sounded like the past, their sound became more and more contemporary over the years, shaped by the experience machine of extensive touring, crossing genre boundaries. Sound as a changing, universal language – that is what Kadavar have always known how to create. With its focus on change, ‘I Just Want To Be A Sound’ is also an ode to Berlin.

Kadavar also announces a string of special album release shows that will take place in London, France and Berlin. Dates and ticket links below:

May 13 London, UK – Rough Trade East // TICKETS
May 14 Paris, France – Supersonic // TICKETS
May 15 Berlin, Germany – Urban Spree, presented by Rough Trade Europe // TICKETS

Kadavar have built a steadily growing fan base that worships them as heroes and follows their every move across five continents. Their successes speak volumes: their last two records landed in the top ten of the German album charts; they’ve written songs for Wolfmother and, most recently, Fantastische Vier. They’ve performed with Ozzy Osbourne and the Scorpions and headlined tours around the globe. The fact that the band now sounds surprisingly different in 2025 should come as no surprise to anyone who has observed their previous incarnations. Change has always been a constant for Kadavar. What remains unchanged is their raw power. Wherever they go, you can feel the intensity – in their songwriting, their dedication, their performances. In the sound! This is the transfer that makes Kadavar incomparable. They explore the potential of music, even in quiet nuances, while always retaining the power of their rock roots. Having grown as a band, they have fulfilled their mission of being completely immersed in their sound.