Merciful Nuns – God Aeon XIII (Digital/CD Album – Solar Lodge)
Since 2010, Artaud Seth and his acolytes have created an impressive body of work under the musical alter ego Merciful Nuns. With an extensive discography behind them, they now take a reflective yet creative step forward with this new album.
More than just a retrospective or a simple compilation of remastered tracks, no fewer than 28 songs from their catalogue have been revisited, reworked, re-adapted, or remixed. While the essence of the original songs remains recognizable, each has been given a fresh interpretation, making them feel new and invigorated.
The atmosphere is still deeply dark and at times grim, enhanced by powerful, bombastic arrangements that give many tracks a Cinematic quality. Strong 80s Dark-Wave influences are unmistakable, often inviting comparisons to The Sisters of Mercy. Artaud Seth’s deep, resonant voice is as characteristic as ever and continues to define the project’s sonic identity. At times, there are even unexpected twists where elements of Krautrock subtly emerge.
“Aeon XIII” is, above all, a varied and quintessentially idiosyncratic album—traits that have always been hallmarks of Merciful Nuns. The minimal yet striking artwork perfectly complements the group’s occult and esoteric aesthetic.
While not every track may resonate equally, there are undeniably some true gems to be discovered in this distinctive anthology. (Rating:8½).
Watch the clip “Eternal Decay”:
About Merciful Nuns
Artaud Seth founded Merciful Nuns in Germany in 2010, following earlier work with The Garden of Delight and Near Earth Orbit. He also runs the Solar Lodge label, which has released the project’s catalogue.
Merciful Nuns released the album “Anomaly”, followed four years later by “Kvltan” in 2022, the first part of a story about the origins of Kvltan. “Oneironauts” continued that story in 2025. The anthology “Aeon XIII” reworks and remixes 28 tracks from the band’s catalogue, again released through Solar Lodge.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
