Artist: Schwarzer Engel
Title: Imperium II: Titania
Genre: Dark / Gothic / Symphonic Metal
Release Date: 29th July 2016
Label: Trisol Music Group
Album Review
It’s been long since we listened to SCHWARZER ENGEL for the first time, it seems. And I can still remember my impressions: they didn’t remind me of anything and anyone though I was quite a connoisseur in good music. A friend of mine said they were a mixture or RAMMSTEIN and CRADLE OF FILTH. Sometimes it really seems so. But with each new album Dave Jason develops and deepens the band’s style. It really becomes unique and vivid.
As for the new work, one can notice the prevailing importance of melody. The previous ones including the first part of “Imperium” were much more brutal and tiresome. The new album remains metal and tough but the melody lines make each song remarkable and there’s no feeling of an endless drum bit. Starting with the opening piece which invites listeners to enter the Imperium full of mysterious sounds, birds’ cries and, probably, strange creatures hiding in the dark. The next tracks ‘Titania’ and ‘Vater der Vampire’ just prove it intensifying the gloom and making the whole scene more impressive and dynamic. Vocals are simple but as if choral. It seems that there are a lot of characters in this story, all rolled in one.
‘Wintertod’ adds some medieval notes and eases the pressure a little bit. If you’re not a big fan of classical music you will certainly enjoy ‘In der Halle des Bergkönigs’ (The Hall of the Mountain King) and it feels like the creation of Edvard Grieg fits perfectly the idea and atmosphere of the album. My personal highlight is ‘Weltweit’, beautiful, profound and heartfelt, meanwhile the following song ‘Himmelwärts’ pleases with its lyrics. The beginning of ‘Versuchung’ immediately reminds of the band’s debut album ‘Apokalypse’. ‘EinMensch’ is just the composition that must be on the album to make it complete and there’s nothing else to add. ‘Abschied’ draws the line under everything sung, said and revealed before and then the gates close although one can open them again.
To sum it all up, ‘Imperium II: Titania’ turned out to be fascinating. Those who love SCHWARZER ENGEL won’t be disappointed as for new fans they may fall in love with the band instantly. Enjoy the sound! The album really is complicated and worthy to check out.
Tracklist
01. Es öffnen sich die Tore…
02. Titania
03. Vater der Vampire
04. Wintertod
05. In der Halle des Bergkönigs
06. Weltweit
07. Himmelwärts
08. Versuchung
09. EinMensch
10. Abschied
11. …es schliessen sich die Tore
Line-up
Dave Jason – Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Composition & Orchestral Arrangements
Jens Lindmaier – E-Guitar (live)
Stefan Grießhammer – E-Guitar (live)
Bert Oeler – Bass (live)
Marcel Woitowicz – Drums (live)
Website
https://www.schwarzerengel.info / https://www.facebook.com/schwarzerengelband
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 10
Total: 10 / 10
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