Berlin-based Dark-Pop-legend Blutengel opens an impressive new chapter in an unparalleled success story: the new album Omen is a magnificent successor to the Top-5-charting Monument. Chris Pohl and Ulrike Goldmann simply delivered their best album so far!
Well, it all starts with a mysterious prologue (Omen) that brings us close to the sound of This Corrosion (same intro) from The Sisters of Mercy. Sing starts with almost the same drums as on the Queen track We will Rock you. It has a catchy chorus with a perfect vocal fight between all the people taking part in this one. At some point it really sounds like a perfect sing-a-long track with a very positive feel. The Siren could be a dancefloor hit if the DJ’s decided to give it a chance! The beats are right, the vocals are firing up the tempo, it all sounds very catchy ... It feels like the perfect track! Wir sind was wir sind is the first song performed in German. The catchy sound has stayed, making us feel warm and comfortable as the positive vibe feels real! I’m pretty sure that the Germans will sing-a-long the catchy phrases. Give me is another highlight, led by the beautiful voice of Ulrike Goldmann. It’s a very sensitive pearl, be ready to shed a tear. The utterly positive reel in this one might actually help out a lot of people looking for a grasp of hope and a sparkle at the end of a long and dark tunnel. This track is one of the many reasons why this album is their best album so far and will be for sure one of the highlights of 2015 and yet I’m only 5 tracks far! I adore the piano and the almost a capella moment! The war between us is a colder track, with a more negative attitude and anger. The sound is a bit more electrified, catchy, has lots of melancholy & sadness in it but will also help people fight against negative feelings after a break up or at least after an emotional moment in a couple’s life. I can see this one reaching out on the dancefloors! Another musical uppercut! Fire in the distance is yet another highlight & very catchy track. It’s a fire against the darkness and feels again like a dancefloor hit! Feel the up-tempo beats and start to dance away the darkness! Lots of fans will absolutely love this one! Dein Gott feels like inspired by Depeche Mode (beat- and sound wise). The lyrics pushes it more into a Mesh sound, rage driven! It’s clearly a darker side of Blutengel. Guilty is a sad love story with a slow tempo and yet it’s a very attractive track filled with pure melancholy and regret and sadness. It feels like it will be a highlight on stage, as I can see them perform it live with a very dramatic act. It’s another dark pearl! Save us returns to the feel and the influence of the prologue with a very catchy sound and a bluesy guitar. The hey, nan a nan a moment will remind you off course of The Sisters of Mercy and you will dance on it for sure! Salvation is handed out and you will be sucked into the sound and the feel of this track. I can almost feel the feedback from the audience as if it was already performed now in front of their massive amount of fans. It’s one of the strongest tracks, pure cold with the best chorus possible and very appealing sound! A softer moment comes with the piano intro and the sensitive vocals of Chris Pohl singing in German. Der regen is an emotional treasure! Be ready to shed a tear! Ich bin das feuer is new fuel for the dancefloor machine. Again the catchiness of the track reaches out and asks for feedback from the fans! Dance, sing-a-long and put your arms in the air! Holy blood is a foot stumping EBM clubber with a more aggressive sound. Jump up and down and don’t stay still for a second! Arms will go up and people will sing-a-long! Finger licking good! Ashe zu Asche begins with a mix that hints between Sam Sparrow (Happiness) and And One and heads up with more catchiness! This one was also the first single and made a lot of people happy! Bow Down sounds very empowering with great lyrics that will – hopefully – inspire a lot of people to change things in their life. Once again it’s very catchy (and I know: I repeat myself in this, but that’s what most of the tracks on this album are). Elegy is the last regular track, sung in German and with a slower tempo. It feels very hopeful but is yet very melancholic due to the synth and the vocals. Did I just hear a violin? It’s a great end for a great album as this one! Fans who purchase the Bonus disc Deluxe Edition get 8 extra tracks:
Inside of Me sounds again like a mix between Depeche Mode and Mesh. I like the more aggressive approach and harsher noise. It could become a great clubber if one remixes it a bit. Save your tears sounds very positive, very much into reaching out a helping hand. Chris Pohl’s vocals sound a bit different from the other tracks (a bit lesser polished, but yet nice). The romantic vision is nice. Am Abgrund carries on the positive real, giving us a good feeling and new hope. Starkeeper sounds a bit more like Mesh. The sound is well worked out: warm and very modern (even with breakbeats in it). When you create a Blutengel vs Terminal Choice sound you get a more fired up and more guitar orientated version of Fire in the distance, worth purchasing! Stay (with me) is an emotional one sung by Ulrike and will be cherished by a lot of people. It’s an emotional pearl! The fragility of the vocals, the piano, the sax, tuba and the melancholy will trap you into this one! Lovesong? Is not a cover from The Cure, but an original one with a slow tempo driven by emotions and sadness. It will explode after a while, but without getting too dramatic. The Static Violence remix of Asche zu Asche is a more metal minded version that comes pretty close to Rammstein.
Fans can purchase the last extra’s: the unplugged versions. Based on what I know: really worth it, but I didn’t get this version for my review.
It’s clearly a pearl, their best album so far and will be the highlight of 2015! So what are you waiting for?! Book them, get the album, spread the word …
Track listing:
Album:
1. Prologue: Omen
2. Sing
3. The Siren
4. Wir sind was wir sind
5. Give me
6. The War Between Us
7. Fire In The Distance
8. Dein Gott
9. Guilty
10. Save Us
11. Der Regen fällt…
12. Ich bin das Feuer
13. Holy Blood
14. Asche zu Asche
15. Bow Down
16. Elegy
Bonus Disc Deluxe Edition:
1. Inside Of Me
2. Save Your Tears
3. Am Abgrund
4. Starkeeper (Album Version)
5. Fire In The Distance (Blutengel vs. Terminal Choice)
6. Stay (with me)
7. Lovesong?
8. Asche zu Asche (Static Violence Remix)
Acoustic Versions (exclusive Box Set Bonus Disc):
1. Sing (Acoustic Version)
2. Give Me (Acoustic Version)
3. Save Us (Acoustic Version)
4. Wir sind was wir sind (Acoustic Version)
5. Der Regen fällt… (Acoustic Version)
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