Genre/Influences: IDM, Experimental, Electro, Trance, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Hendrick Grothe is back on track unleashing the new Blac Kolor-album. The album was preceded by the excellent “Metanoia”-single.

Content: If you’re familiar with Blac Kolor you definitely know what to expect. “Weltenbrand” sounds like a true sonic labyrinth wherein Grothe experiments with multiple influences. It sounds like he has a knack to mix everything together but in the end it will always result in the intelligent and sophisticated sound of Blac Kolor. Several tracks feature guest artists who are taking care of the vocals. You’ll notice Panternoise,  Jennifer Touch, XTR Human and Donis (Love Ix Colder Than Death).

+ + + : What I like about  Blac Kolor is that every single album sounds different although holding on the main ingredients of this sound architect. It’s all about sound intelligence and the magic of sounds and noises. This work has an ‘exotic’ appeal to me which again resulted from the sound treatments. “Metanoia” featuring Jennifer Touch remains a cool, danceable, and sensual piece of music. Same intelligence although different approach at “Zerschmetterling” which sounds like the judicious offspring between Industrial- and electronic music. “Leuchtende Stürme” took me by surprise for its great, dark, atmospheric side but also the rough vocals by XTR Human.

– – – : I regret the work is not featuring a few more songs with vocals and/or spoken samplings. The debut part of the work sounds cool but the best comes at the second part.

Conclusion: This is not my favorite Blac Kolor-album but still an absolute must have for Electronic fine-tasters.

Best songs: “Metanoia”, ““Zerschmetterling”, “Weltenbrand”, “Leuchtende Stürme”, “Wogen”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.blackolor.de / www.facebook.com/blackolormusic

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

Listen to “Weltenbrand”:

About Blac Kolor

Blac Kolor is the project of German producer Hendrick Grothe, working in IDM, Experimental, Electro, Trance and Industrial territory on the Ant-Zen label. “Weltenbrand” was preceded by the single “Metanoia” and features guest vocalists Panternoise, Jennifer Touch, XTR Human and Donis (Love Ix Colder Than Death). Grothe discussed the project’s approach in a Side-Line interview.

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, IDM, Trance.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Hendrick Grothe aka Blac Kolor released this new EP at the end of 2022. The title of the tracks clearly refer to four tribes which in a way also stands for the concept behind this work.

Content: Blac Kolor is once more mixing different influences together; creating a true sonic osmosis between Trance structures, Industrial sound treatments, cold atmospheres and danceable beats. The songs have been supported by essential samplings accentuating the tribal concept.

+ + + : I’m once more impressed by the sound intelligence of this artist who never stops to create visionary music. The way all elements have been mixed with overwhelming atmospheres and Tribal chants is simply amazing. The tracks because of this mix all have an uplifting effect which however mainly emerges at the opening track “Haka”. But there’s definitely something to say about all cuts.

– – – : No minus points to mention here.

Conclusion: Blac Kolor did it again; a meaningful, icy and styled Electronic composition for further Industrial generations.

Best songs: “Haka”, “Teton”, “Kecak”, “Ujanbater”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.blackolor.de /  www.facebook.com/blackolormusic 

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Blac Kolor

Blac Kolor is the project of German producer Hendrick Grothe, who debuted with the album “Wide Noise” in 2014. His sound moves between IDM, Industrial-Techno, EBM and Trance, reshaping those styles into a signature blend released mainly through Ant-Zen. Grothe followed the 2016 EP “Stormily” with the 2018 double vinyl album “Awakening”, which featured Front 242’s Jean-Luc De Meyer.

“Roots” arrived in February 2023, between “Awakening” and Grothe’s later albums “Weltenbrand” and the 2025 concept album “Arca”, his sixth full-length as Blac Kolor. In an April 2026 interview with Side-Line, Grothe described his filtering approach: “if it sounds like something that’s already been done somewhere before, by me or anyone else, then it gets deleted immediately”.

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, industrial-techno, cinematographic, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Hendrick Grothe better known under the moniker Blac Kolor gained some recognition with his productions released on Basic Unit Productions and more recently on Hands. “Nephi” is his debut on Ant-Zen revealing four new songs from this Leipzig (Germany)-based artist.

Content: This EP takes off in a rather industrial way with punching rhythms mixed with electronic sequences. We progressively move towards hard/dark-techno-industrial music featuring a few spoken samplings. The industrial element remains the basis of the work, but has been next injected with dark-electronics and on the last song even becomes a bit cinematic-like.

+ + + : I consider Blac Kolor as a ‘visionary’ artist; not especially because the music is innovating, but in the way Grothe is mixing influences together resulting in something ‘innovating’. It’s not that different on “Nephi”, which is hard to define. It’s a complex, but accessible work revealing great industrial elements (especially the rhythms) mixed with multiple electronic elements. There’s also a great atmosphere hanging over the songs leading the listener into darkness or should I say into a ‘black atmosphere’!? Blac Kolor definitely remains an artist with an own approach and, which now again excels in creativity and efficiency; “Which Side” and “Gulf Of Misery” being for sure great exposures of the project’s writing skills.

– – – : I can’t say that I was impressed in a similar way as on the full length albums –“Wide Noise” remaining an absolute masterpiece, but Blac Kolor remains your guarantee for quality music.

Conclusion: This EP is a cool new exposure of this German producer’s talent in composing visionary, progressive industrial music.

Best songs: “Which Side”, “Gulf Of Misery”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.blackolor.de / www.facebook.com/blackolormusic

Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Blac Kolor

Blac Kolor is the project of German producer Hendrick Grothe, who released his debut album “Wide Noise” on Basic Unit Productions in 2014. Grothe moved to Hands for “Awakening” in 2018 before “Nephi” became his first release on Ant-Zen. He has stayed with the label since, with the EP “Roots” (2023), the album “Weltenbrand” (2023) and “Arca” (2025) following.

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

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Awakening’.

About Blac Kolor

Blac Kolor is the solo project of German producer Hendrick Grothe, who debuted with “Wide Noise” in 2014 on Basic Unit Productions. “Awakening” featured guest vocals by Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242.

Grothe went on to release the albums “Times Of Upheaval” (2021) and “Weltenbrand” (2023), followed by “Arca” on Ant-Zen at the end of 2025.

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

The IDM infested EBM project Blac Kolor has a new album ready. “Awakening” offers 14-track s featuring also the vocals of Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242 fame.

For his third album, Leipzig-based producer Hendrick Grothe aka Blac Kolor mixed menacing industrial drones (“In Blac”, “Worlds Collapse”, “No Answers”), shuffling downbeats (“Tears”) and upfront club tunes (“Loneliness”, “Fire God”, “All of us”).

Available now on double vinyl (limited quantities so order yours on time) or on CD via this fine mailorder.

Enjoy the title track “Awakening” featuring Jean-Luc De Meyer.

Read the review of ‘Awakening’.

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. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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