EGL Magazine
EGL Magazine
Exclusively Gothic Lifestyle
31 July 2009
Eisheilig started off with metal and punk roots, but after changing direction a little, they released their first gothic, pop and electronics influenced demo ten years ago in 1999, simply entitled 'Eisheilig'. On the strength of this demo, the band picked up the 'Best Band without a Record Deal' award in Sonic Seducer Magazine, performed a celebrated gig at the legendary WGT 2000 and were signed by Napalm Records. Their next album 'Die Garten des Herrn' followed in 2003. This album was recorded after the departure of their second guitarist, and explored a much more classic rock sound.
This change in the band set them out looking for a new label, and they signed up with Drakkar Entertainment GmbH - a label with sucesses such as Nightwish and Lordi in their portfolio.
Eisheilig release 'Imperium'
When our promotional copy of Eisheilig's new album 'Imperium' arrived, my other half had it playing in his stereo before I even knew what it was, and he was very reluctant to give it back to me. Eisheilig are another German band who manage to hurdle the language barrier and offer a very new and interesting twist on European metal music.
The majority of bands that break into Britain from Europe do so in the English language, but there's just something about heavy metal that allows it to transcend such barriers, particularly with a language like German where the linguistic tone seems to fit the music genre so well. And maybe there's other associations in our mind that gel the music and the language so well; dark forests and mountains, gothic castles and the Grimm fairy tales. Either way, if you like Rammstein, you are going to love Eisheilig...
Image copyright Anja Keil
Eisheilig's exploration of music genres continued with their next album 'Elysium' released in 2006 with a much more sinister and brutal sounding track listing. This album found them on stages at The Battle of Metal Open Air, the WGT, the Mystic Festival and Bochum Total, amongst others, delivering memorable performances.
Eisheilig's next album was one that shocked their goth metal followers; 'Auf dem Weg in Deine Welt' was a much more melodic album with influences from rock music and the 1970s. But this album was a personal and brief exploration of their softer side, and Eisheilig have hit back this year with 'Imperium', due for release on 18th September.
'Imperium' is the first album released under the band's own direction, and is a heavy and sinister recording. But Eisheilig have mixed in elements you wouldn't expect to find, and they've done so with ease, confidence and perfection.
Image copyright Anja Keil
Every now and again, a band releases an album that really pushes the edges of their music genre, that dares to mix things up and puts a very individual twist on things. Tracks such as 'Tanzt das Kapital' which features dance elements overlaid with a haunting woman's voice, all backed with heavy guitars and gutteral voices, or 'Das letzte Gericht' layered with choirs and orchestral syntehesizers, shows Eisheilig to be a band able to stitch true gold into their music.
'Imperium' is Eisheilig's political album; a "gloomy reckoning with the here and now" in which they "touch on society's sore points. 'Imperium' is a call to stand up against a world ruled by ignorance, apathy and manipulated information."
Article Written By...
Keller is EGL Magazine's editor. If you would like to have your band either reviewed or interviewed in EGL Magazine, please do get in touch.
Dennis Mikus - vocals
Till Maiwald - guitar
Dominik Sapia - drums
Markus Vogler - bass
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