Berlin, Germany – After making a thunderous return to the U.S. with a standout set at Austin Psych Fest a couple of weeks ago, the rock band Kadavar, have announced their powerful new single, “Scar On My Guitar,” out today. The song offers a searing preview of the band’s upcoming album, I Just Want To Be A Sound—due out May 16—and serves as a bold declaration of the band’s new sonic identity.
“Scar on My Guitar” channels raw emotion and gritty energy into a track that feels both intensely personal and universally resonant. It’s a love letter to reinvention, shedding the past in favor of something unfiltered and fully alive.
“The song is about my guitar and all the scars it carries from touring,” says frontman Lupus Lindemann. “Out of frustration, I once threw it into the drum kit on stage many years ago, and its neck broke. I had it glued back on, and our journey continued. On tour, there’s no time — it’s always moving forward. On stage, you give it everything: sweat, blood, and tears. And before you even realize what’s happening right in front of your eyes, you’re already back on the bus, heading to the next city. Ready for the next adventure.”
Listen to “Scar On My Guitar” here: https://kadavarband.lnk.to/ScarOnMyGuitarPR
The song is the final single release before the album drops—a last glimpse into the band’s bold new direction before the full vision is unveiled. The previously released singles “I Just Want To Be A Sound”, “Hysteria”, and “Regeneration” are available for streaming and can be heard here.
Late last month, Kadavar delivered a landmark performance at Austin Psych Fest, marking their first U.S. appearance in several years. The set was electric, with brand-new songs being performed live for the first time. Publications like CultureMap Austin mentioned the band’s set as one of the ’10 Acts That Broke The Mold” at the festival with many calling it one of the best sets to see that weekend.
I Just Want To Be A Sound is a manifesto for freedom, transformation, and radical presence—an album that repeatedly reinvents itself. Rock anthems, ballads, pop songs, and epic soundscapes alternate seamlessly and virtuously, creating a record that feels both free and full of momentum.
The tracks have already gained significant traction, landing on top playlists across Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and TIDAL. It’s been featured on Metal Injection’s Top Tracks of the Week, Fresh Noise, New in Rock, Hot New Rock, and more.
“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,” the band shares in a joint statement.
Now a four-piece led by founders Lupus Lindemann and Tiger Bartelt, joined by guitarist Jascha Kreft and bassist Simon ‘Dragon’ Bouteloup, Kadavar’s declaration I Just Want To Be A Sound was inspired by a conversation in 2013. When Lindemann and Bartelt asked Bouteloup why he didn’t have any social media accounts, he simply replied: “I just want to be a sound.” The phrase stuck—and over the band’s 15-year journey, it has become a guiding principle: to be completely absorbed in their music, free from distraction or compromise.
From their early days as credible purveyors of retro-psychedelic stoner rock—embodying the contemporary coolness of Berlin’s hedonistic scene—to becoming globe-trotting sonic adventurers, Kadavar’s evolution has been driven by relentless creativity. With extensive touring and genre-defying performances, their music has become increasingly contemporary, shaped by the experience of the road and their ever-expanding creative vision.
Kadavar is gearing up for 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
‘I Just Want To Be A Sound’ Album Art + Tracklisting
Pre-Order the album at this link
1. I Just Want To Be A Sound
2. Hysteria
3. Regeneration
4. Let Me Be A Shadow
5. Sunday Mornings
6. Scar On My Guitar
7. Strange Thoughts
8. Truth
9. Star
10. Until The End
Sound as a changing, universal language – that is what Kadavar have always known how to create.
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.
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