Rome – World In Flames (Digital/CD EP – Trisol)
With “World In Flames”, Luxembourg’s Jérôme Reuter continues to reflect deeply on the state of the world and its turbulent evolution. The title of this six-part work speaks volumes. Rome shifts between its signature dark and sensitive Chanson style and more atmospheric, Cinematic passages. Personally, I favor the classic Chanson sound, which remains intricately woven with Neo-Folk influences, over the more Cinematic direction. The tracks are steeped in darkness and melancholy, but there’s also a palpable sense of pain running through them; emotions that Reuter skillfully translates into profound songs with stirring, evocative choruses. While “World In Flames” may not be Rome’s strongest work in recent years, it still contains some hidden gems worth discovering. (Rating:7½).
Listen to “First We Take Berlin”: Read the news on ‘World In Flames’.
About Rome
Jérôme Reuter, born on August 2, 1981, in Luxembourg, is the creative force behind the neofolk project Rome, formed in November 2005. Before founding Rome, Reuter was involved in various musical endeavors, including performing under the moniker Reggie Fain, influenced by Tom Waits, participating in the Oi! band the Skinflicks, and contributing to the post-punk outfit Mack Murphy and the Inmates.
Rome’s music is characterized by a fusion of military drumming, atmospheric electronic textures, and ethereal acoustic guitars, complemented by samples and poetic lyrics that often explore themes of war, love, pain, and death. Reuter draws inspiration from literary figures such as Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré, Albert Camus, Ernst Jünger, and Jean Genet.
“World In Flames”, a six-track mini-album released by Trisol in 2024, followed the 2023 album “Gates Of Europe“.
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.
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
