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Rating: It was back in 1985 when 6 German guys formed a metal band oriented towards gothic music, yet infused with death characteristics and elements. The result of their first albums was mediocre, but the band managed to continue, refine their sound, and keep moving forward.
In 2005 they created "Atlantis," but this time they offer a raw and violent death metal filled with gothic references and atmospheres. The myth of Atlantis might seem a bit overdone to many, but what matters is that Atlantis is enjoyable.
Vicious, powerful, and dark, with frequent changes in atmosphere — sometimes fully gothic; pumping keyboards and growl and clean vocals that alternate with a female lyrical voice contributing to a mystical air. Other times, clear and precise epic backgrounds are present, but what, in my opinion, spoils things a good bit, is the frequent habit of singable and melodic choruses, which in my opinion should be avoided in a genre like death; but analyzing the rest, everything is done very well. The band is German but the style of the songs draws a lot from the old Norwegian school, exemplified by "Reich Of Phenomena" with which the album opens, showcasing a violent epic drum gallop in a sinister and dark setting. The keyboards are excellent, providing that touch of melody that's not too daring or cold reminiscent of a genre very similar to Symphonic Black.
"Superior Race", then, also has a classic character inspired by thrash+brutal group mechanisms but keeps alive the genre proposed by the band. "Gods Of Nations", in and of itself, can serve well to understand the offered material. Choruses, schematic drums, vaguely nu-metal choruses, voracious growls, and sharp riffing. There's also a slight and very subtle commercial breeze flavoring the air, but it's so thin and barely noticeable that it seems deliberately placed to showcase differently material that remains distinctly underground. This is demonstrated by "Ichor" and "Enigma", both divided into two parts: a mixture of black metal and a blend of singable melodic sonority. So, to summarize, we have music balanced between gothic-leaning death and symphonic black, but tempered with easy melody despite the presence of growls and seriously conceived technical plays.
Finally, it seems evident that Krull and his companions have the desire not to label themselves in any genre, attempting, albeit a bit forcibly, to connect with heavy and thrash schemes in songs like "Morbid Mind". There is no shortage of an instrumental piece, such as "OMEN", both epic and gothic at the same time, sacred and mystical/prophetic. It wanders here and there between a "him" style piece like "Cold Black Days", but recovers with other more violence-framed tracks like "Atlantean Empire" and "Clash of Titans".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Reich of Phenomena (04:53)
It was the mighty empire fallen from grace
The ten glorious kingdoms of the superior race
Created by ancient Gods dominion in days of yore
Rulers from the unknwon land not found anymore
Reich of Phenomena kingdom of the damned
where nations were born and mankind's fate was sealed
Reich of Phenomena epoch of the damned
The Fall of Man was the downfall in the end
The island far away to where no man has gone
Places all over the world meant to be the one
Inscriptions of the past forever they are lost
Kings from the unknown land reigned from coast to coast
Reich of Phenomena kingdom of the damned
where nations were born and mankind's fate was sealed
Reich of Phenomena epoch of the damned
The Fall of Man was the downfall in the end
The old world power kept the occult inside
from the ancient times into the new age
Reich of Phenomena kingdom of the damned
where nations were born and mankind's fate was sealed
Reich of Phenomena epoch of the damned
The Fall of Man was the downfall in the end
07 Omen (02:46)
"... When the divine portion began to fade away,
and became diluted too often and too much with the mortal admixture,
and the human nature got the upper hand,
they then, being unable to bear their fortune, behaved unseemly...
...and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men
in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like
manner disappeared into the depths of the sea..."
[Plato 427-347 v.u.Z.]
08 Cold Black Days (03:52)
Get away and your life will be released
Give away all your dreams and all your sins
You are playing for forgiveness
You cry for help
When your life is over who can tell
You can't change anything
Your life is just a dream
Nothing real nothing more
Nothing left cause
These are cold black days and
You're fading away
Life cold dark nights
And you're longing for light
These are cold days
And you're running away
To be alive again
To be alive again
Look around emptiness and you are falling
Hear the sound the peal of bells is tolling
You remember sunny days these times are gone
All the lovely words are said and done
You can't change all the things
Your life is full of dreams
Nothing real nothing more
Nothing left cause
These are cold black days and
You're fading away
Life cold dark nights
And you're longing for light
These are cold days
And you're running away
To be alive again
To be alive again
09 Atlantean Empire (04:06)
Eleven thousand and five hundred years ago
The realm of the golden age ruling the world
Thousands of warships ten thousands warchariots
Hundred thousands armed warriors
They are near
Shades appear
From north to south
The warlords are coming
They show no tears
From east to west
People start running
They are shedding tears
Atlantean empire
Eleven thousand and five hundred years ago
The great wealthy empire colonized the world
Temples of gold mounted with brass
Golden paradise land of dreams
They are near
Shades appear
From north to south
The warlords are coming
They show no tears
From east to west
People start running
They are shedding tears
Atlantean empire
10 Clash of the Titans (06:09)
Warclash of the titans
War of primeval nations
Out of the fog warships appear final conquest of the empire's fleet
War has some across the sea one continent has to bleed
Thousands have come warriors of doom heavy armour heralds of gloom
Swords are drawn banners are high the hells spawn has arised
The atlantean fleet sails against the hellens
The final tried of the open sea
The atlantean fleet sails against the crypts
The final tried of ancient history
Warclash of the titans
War of primeval nations
Point of impact thrown spears cause and effect crushing shields
Smashing bones helmets break atlantean troops overtake
Battle rages face to face flesh and blood without grace
Atlantean force skilled warfare demigods spreading fear
The atlantean fleet sails against the hellens
The final tried of the open sea
The atlantean fleet sails against the crypts
The final tried of ancient history
Warclash of the titans
War of primeval nations
War has come days of doom fortune's gone
Blood will run battle is done untergang attack
The turning point of the battle
Armies prepare for the last strike
Warclash of the titans
War of primeval nations
Clash of the titans downfall
Clash of the titans destruction
Clash of the titans
11 Apocalypse (04:18)
The war was lost swords turned to rust
Suddenly these was a great light
Wrath of gods shining bright
Deadly rain from the sky
Erupting hills
A naton damned to die
Withering fire on the fields
Apocalypse
The end of the golden age
Apocalypse
Divine judgement
Apocalypse
The end of the golden age
Apocalypse
Godlife punishment
Wild raging waters
Caused chain reactions
Ocean turns to a deadly wave
The deluge a watery grave
Death sentence by the gods
Legacy remains
High-spirited world explodes
The golden kingdom in flames
Apocalypse
The end of the golden age
Apocalypse
Divine judgement
Apocalypse
The end of the golden age
Apocalypse
Godlife punishment
14 Aeon (04:06)
Aeon
We seeked for a new life we found places to stay
We came from aztlan a land far away
Over the ocean will we ever see
Our native country rising up the sea
We are the survivors keeping the heritage
The fruits of sins the wisdom of the kings
Hear our calling
Aeon
Longing for a new home we found landscapes to stay
We came from atlantion an island far away
Bringing mystic culture all around the globe
People from the old world escaping the flood
We are the survivors keeping the heritage
The fruits of sins the wisdom of the kings
Forever calling
Aeon
We built up a world of wonder we built it stone by stone
It will remain forever ever if we are gone
Aeon
Hear our call
Aeon
We are the survivors keeping the heritage
The fruits of sins the wisdom of the kings
Hear our calling
Forever calling
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