Out now is the official music video for “Weakness and Lust” which is featured on Blackbriar’s debut album “The Cause of Shipwreck”.

The Dutch gothic-metal act based in Assen, the Netherlands, is as still unsigned, nevertheless they are quite busy bees. Since forming they have released one album, three EPs, six singles, five official music videos, one official lyric video and four acoustic live videos. In October 2019, Blackbriar joined Epica as official support during their ‘Design Your Universe 10th Anniversary Tour’.

The band consists of Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, Frank Akkerman, Robin Koezen and Ruben Wijga.

You can watch the video for “Weakness and Lust” right below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Genre/Influences: Gothic-metal, Neue Deutsche Haerte, Industrial-metal

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Dero Goi (singer/drummer of OOMPH!) and Chris Harms (singer/guitarist of Lord of the Lost) are two well-known names in German rock music. Both artists met each other in Leipzig in 2015 during a common dj-set and worked already previously together on the songs “Europa” of OOMPH! and “Abracadabra” of Lord of the Lost.

Content: This debut-album contains 15 songs and opens with “Die Kreatur”, an uptempo song that unleashes hell and hits you straight in the face! “Kälter Als Der Tod” was released as the second single and sounds more like a romantic rock-ballad followed by the third track “Unzertrennlich”, a dark song in the more general rock-genre. The dreamy tunes of “Durch Die Nacht” are luckily quickly alternated with “Zwei 100%”, a song that has some typical staccato-riffs and electronic tunes reminding me on older work of Rammstein. “Schlafes Braut” sounds like some kind of dark atmospheric sad waltz. “Untergang” is the highlight of “Panoptikum”, very nice guitar-riffs combined with deep dark voices and a very explosive harsh chorus to bang your head on! The very danceable electronic “Mensch/Maschine” could be a song from an old OOMPH!-album and the piano-parts on “Was Mir Am Wichtigsten Ist” reminded me a bit on Nine Inch Nails. Track 10 “Benutz Mich” is another cool uptempo song with an explosive chorus and tight drums! The calm folky miner-song “Glück Auf!” is undoubtedly one of the better songs because of the nice combination of the deep voices of Dero and Chris, the deep backing vocals and the catchy accordeon-melody. “Gott Verdammt” is one of the lesser songs while the first bonus-track, the very danceable Joachim Witt-cover “Goldener Reiter”, reminded me somehow a bit on And One and on “Algorithmus” of D.A.F. This limited digipak edition contains also two more remix bonus-tracks by Solar Fake and Faderhead.

+ + + : “Panoptikum” brings a variety of different styles including two calm sing-a-long songs, lots of uptempo Neue Deutsche Haerte parts and three danceable electronic songs. The album goes from very explosive to very calm and the lyrics are very well articulated. It also has splendid artwork and was also released as limited edition earbook and deluxe box-set.

– – – : The song “Durch Die Nacht” sounds too much pop/soft-romantic and is in (too) hard contrast with all the other songs.

Conclusion: A perfect first collaboration in darkness between two very talented frontmen. This stuff will please all fans of OOMPH!, Lord of the Lost, Eisbrecher and Rammstein for sure!

Best songs: “Die Kreatur”, “Kälter Als Der Tod”, “Untergang”, “Benutz Mich”, “Glück Auf!”, “Goldener Reiter”.

Rate: (8½) WH.

Artist: www.diekreaturband.de / www.facebook.com/diekreaturband
Label: label.napalmrecords.com / www.facebook.com/napalmrecords

Genre/Influences: Industrial-metal, nu-metal.

Background/Info: Nervenbeisser released this EP right before their tour as support for Oomph! They’re now working on their new full length planned for Autumn. The German formation previously released two official albums.

Content: This EP reveals 4 new songs plus 2 remixes. They take off with the heaviest cut of the EP, which will appeal for all Rammstein fans (this band remains an important source of inspiration). The title track is less hard and has something more personal. They here explore gothic-metal fields. Among the 2 tracks left “Märchenland” is another aggressive assault. All songs are still sung in German, which accentuates the link with bands such as Rammstein, Oomph!, Eisbrecher and co.

Das Ich has remixes the title song in a typical bombastic, gothic approach while Andy Haywire remixed a song taken from the band’s last album.

+ + + : I know there’re numerous –and mainly German bands, inspired by Rammstein, but Nervenbeisser is one I’ve always supported and recommended. The songs are just accomplished and revealing a right mix between aggressive guitar play and electronic arrangements. I like this EP because it brings 4 different new songs and only 2 remixes. There’s an interesting diversity between the songs while both remixes, but especially the one by Das Ich, are pretty cool.

– – – : From a very personal point of view, “Alles Gut” is not my favorite cut from this EP. I prefer the powerful “Liebesschmerz”.

Conclusion: Nervenbeisser is one of the most talented German formations dealing with the so-called ‘Neue Deutsche Härte’ (New German Hardness) style. Their next album has to confirm their status of promising band, but this EP sounds already like a new step in the right direction.

Best songs: “Liebesschmerz”, “Alles Gut”, “Probleme”, “Alles Gut – Rmx von Das Ich”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/nervenbeisser

Label: www.echozone.de / www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

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Genre/Influences: Gothic-metal.

Background/Info: Nachtfalter is a German duo active since 2017. After two singles (cf. “Maschinenklang” and “Anderes Leben”) they now present their debut full length album.

Content: “Was Bleibt” sounds definitely in the truly German gothic-metal vein. It’s not only about the German vocals, but it also is about a sound, which you can easily recognize among others. You’ll notice the metal-driven guitar play, which is accentuated by gothic-like atmospheres and melodies. Some tracks are moving into epic passages, but I also noticed a more post-punk inspired song (cf. “Maschinenklang”). Nachtfalter constantly moves in between furious parts and more atmospheric passages while the last track is an electronic version of “Maschinenklang”.

+ + + : If you’re into gothic-metal music, this album might be something for you. It sounds hard and yet melodic, driven by metal guitar riffs and accomplished with subtle electronic treatments. The band also has a nose to compose carrying choruses, bringing a wider dimension to the songs. I don’t want to compare them, but some songs might appeal for fans of Lacrimosa.

– – – : Nachtfalter is clearly meant as an assault of the German goth-metal scene. Releasing a debut album always is a challenge so time will tell if they’ll succeed in their mission. I don’t hear that much new in their sound so why should their become more successful than others?

Conclusion: If your favorite music is German gothic-metal music and you don’t like other genres and don’t even want to discover innovation, this might be an album for you. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, but definitely nothing new!

Best songs: “Im schatten”, “Anderes Leben”, “Maschinenklang – Elektro-Version”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.nachtfalter–band.de / www.facebook.com/nachtfalterband

Label: www.echozone.de / www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Industrial-metal, gothic-metal, industrial-rock.

Background/Info: Trisol is not often signing new bands, but when a new artist joins the German label you  nearly know for sure it’s worthy to discover. Behind Exfeind is hiding the solo-project from Lian Exfeind. The debut album is logically entitled “Nummer Eins”

Content: If you’re familiar with the Trisol roster and especially with the ‘typical’ German ‘industrial’ bands such as ASP and Samsas Traum, you might have an idea of how Exfeind sounds. I think we can easily speak about a sonic offspring between Oomph!, Rammstein and Eisbrecher. It’s not only about the powerful vocals sung in German, but the influences mixing metal guitar riffs, electronic arrangements à la Rammstein in the choruses and gothic atmospheres are intended to conquer the German scene.

+ + + : The opening song of the album directly reveals the power and knowledge of Exfeind. But there’re more potential hits featured on this album. Exfeind has accomplished a truly ‘tour de force’, which is due to the perfect match between the different influences featured on this work. I’m fond of this metal-gothic power achieved with electronics. It especially during the choruses creates this elevating sensation, which I’m sure is what we expect when listening to music.

– – – : No doubt about it, Exfeind has become an instant success in the German scene so who am I to point out any single negative argument!? I just regret there’s no real originality in the sound writing, which sounds as the perfect symbiosis between all aforementioned bands. Trisol took less risk singing this band!

Conclusion: “Nummer Eins” became a prophetic title as the album gained the podium of the famous ‘Deutsche Alternative Charts’! I definitely can speak about a hot and successful debut for Exfeind!

Best songs: “Göttergatte”, “Brich Das Eis”, “Gefallene Engel”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/Exfeind

Label: www.trisol.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Trisol–Music–Group/104166526285471

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com