With 25 brand new songs, 12 music videos, and a tour, Blutengel celebrate their 25-year success story today with the new album "Un:Sterblich - Our Souls Will Never Die".Chris Pohl reflects on his entire musical past and proves that Blutengel is constantly evolving and transforming. "Un:Sterblich - Our Souls Will Never Die" is Blutengel's most personal album to date, with glimpses into deeper, darker feelings of the recent years.
"The album, as such, combines the atmosphere of the early Blutengel songs with the current sounds. Also in the artwork, this common theme of bringing the past into the future permeates... - Blutengel is and remains Blutengel." - Chris Pohl (Blutengel)
Chris said about the creation of the formats in which the new album was released today, "This time, there is an unprecedented box! It took a very long time to put together the content. My late father left me coins that I sold in the last few months.... That took a lot of time and brought back memories.... I really wanted to have a Blutengel coin now, too, so that people can remember me... Also, the hourglass symbolizes eternity and immortality because you can turn it over repeatedly. And with 25 songs, I also thought it would be nice to have handwritten lyrics from Ulli and me enclosed.... So everything is deeply personal."
Check the unboxing video from Chris for his fans on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr1a0xzIC5N
"It was about time to catch up on the last five years following the release of my book.... A lot has happened. And the audiobook, which is only in the box, is also essential to the anniversary," adds Chris.
The Blutengel album is now available worldwide in the physical format of your choice as well as digitally: https://blutengel.lnk.to/unsterblich
Stylistically, Chris, on the one hand, has ventured into new territory with songs like "King of Blood," "Can you see me," and "Ohne Wiederkehr" while remaining true to himself and his roots as a musician with songs like "Back for Blood," "Dark History" and "Shine Again." "UN:STERBLICH - Our Souls Will Never Die" is out now as 2CD digipack, a limited deluxe 3CD-Digibook including an exclusive 5-track CD with unplugged versions of selected new songs as well as on analog cassette and two strictly limited vinyl editions. The highlight is the wooden fan box set limited to 699 pieces incl. the 3CD digibook, a handwritten lyric book, an hourglass in Blutengel design, a Blutengel coin and bracelet, a hand-numbered certificate, and the exclusive 2023 reissue of the "Lebe deinen Traum" as an audiobook only available in the box containing the years 2017-2022
CD 1
The Void – Prologue sounds like an industrial/electro minded intro with no vocals. It’s the kind of intro’s I skip or simply don’t take into my playlist, sorry about that.
The first real song has already been launched as a single and is clearly one I absolutely adore: King of blood.The song mixes a bombastic sound with energy, typical lyrics for Blutengel and a strong chorus! The music is really worth it and will a banger once performed on stage!
Unsere Zeit läuft ab is a nice up-tempo track that will pleasure the German (speaking) fans with a strong tempo and dito lyrics!
We belong to the nightis yet another single and has a cool 80’s touch where Ulrike takes us back in time! I like the up-tempo synth sound and the vocals.
The last crusade is another return to the 80’s. Here Chris mixes German with English. The lyrics give you the feeling it will be the last time as if after 25 years it’s time to say goodbye, but not without a big bang!
Fliegen is the first duet and has a positive vibe (just sad my German is not so good). I hear an old school sound mixed with modern tools and modern production. The studio work is really excellent!
Tief is another single and is on my playlist. I feel the energy and the rage here.
Dark history raves on the 80’s sound and has a referral to an 80’s band in the sound, but It didn’t bother me playing it a lot so far (as it has already been launched a while ago). It’s a strong duet, perfectly mixed with the sound! I’m pretty sure this one will also be a hit on stage!
Kein Mensch is a typical old school Blutengel track, but also has a modern touch and a catchy feel in the chorus (the break down is also a great idea here). The guitars are a cool extra touch.
Shine again sounds soft and has a romantic feel mixed with melancholia. The song feels like cruising during an interstellar trip!
Living on the edge of the night (A Gothic anthem) is a clear ode to The Sisters of Mercy and a great duet with great and up-tempo music! It’s a well-chosen single! The guitar sound gives it an extra layer and the na na na’s will clearly remind you of the above mentioned band. Catchy as hell and I’m sure it’s a hit that will be performed for as long as this band will perform on stages all over the world!
The prophecy is take out by Ulrike and could be used to close a show or is it another word about ending it all? The music sounds softer and modern.
Time for a remix: Wir sind Unsterblich (Alternative Mix) but on this album you wont get the original mix. I hear some house & techno influences. He duet sounds strong and also carries a slice of a retro 80’s sound. The drums hit hard at the right moment (rendering the power of the song). Job well done!
Ohne Wiederkehr is a melancholic ballad carried out by Chris’ vocals. The sound gets wider towards the end.
All in all CD 1 is very strong and really has the potential! I adore the different styles, the mix and the power!
CD 2
Can you see me starts with a modern sound and vocals that have been tortured by a machine. The song slowly gets better towards the end. The tempo is low.
Back for blood takes us back into the vampire story with Ulrike and Chris duelling with their voices. I somehow get a feeling it will be hard to get this one done the right way on stage.
Journey sounds soft, slow and also gives me the feeling we wont hear this song much on stage. I get the feeling it’s a filler and not a killer, but hey who am I to say this?
Meine Macht has a roaring machine, but the tempo is a bit too slow to make it really interesting. The lyrics are ok as I understand most of it (sorry about my lack of knowledge of the German language).
Sinful games takes us out for a melancholic, bombastic and dark ballad with Chris on vocals.
No suicide song is a weird track as I don’t get the meaning of this tortured and distorted track! I have a feeling it’s a filler, despite the more energetic end.
Our souls will never die is finally a song with hit potential and a great tempo! Listen to the bombastic sound where synth and guitars lift the song to a higher level whilst Chris takes the vocal lead! When Ulrike jumps in with her vocal part she takes the song and gives it wings and a romantic touch! This is clearly a banger!
Nobody brings in a country & blues touch mixed with the synth. Chris vocals are getting reworked and reformed by a machine, giving it an artificial touch. It’s a special song and seems to explore new sounds. I also get some modern Gary Numan influences. It’s daring, but I conclude with: mission accomplished with success!
Dunkelheit is a sad and dark ballad (with a symphonic and bombastic touch), filled with sadness and the story of somebody who is afraid and only sees darkness.
She’s missing… is a sad song sung by Ulrike who makes her sweet voice collapse with the sad lyrics. You’ll hear how powerful her voice can be! I adore the up-tempo music and am sure this one could become a fan favourite track!
Frei sein could have been the translation of the Leopold 3 hit: Vrij zijn! But it isn’t! We get a tearjerker sung by Chris who sings about the darkness and the demons who are haunting him inside his head. Before you know the song changes into a more melodic track and also becomes a duet. It’s a great end for the second CD.
Well the second CD is not the strongest one but has some great tracks! 25 Years is a long time and on these 2 CD’s they mixed the old sound with the newer one and even tried out some new things. I heard enough variation to keep it interesting and I have my list of tracks ready for my personal playlist (I think you figured out which ones)!
I hope to see them on stage in Belgium during their world wide tour! Maybe they can join forces with Suicide Commando as co-headliner? I hope they will add at least 10 more years to their path and we’ll see where they will end as their path so far has been really great (number one in German charts is reaching heaven for a German band)!
Blutengel online:
https://www.instagram.com/blutengel_official_chrispohl
https://www.facebook.com/BlutengelOfficial
https://www.getnext.to/blutengel
https://www.blutengel.de
