Death In June
Brown Book

THE REVIEW

“Brown Book” remains even today a black pearl of inestimable value and is probably the masterpiece of neo-folk. Douglas P. demonstrates here all his talent as a "chansonnier" in black: his lyrics are imbued with a decadent poetry rich in mythical and historical references. The “vision” of Douglas P. embraces the past by evoking the tragedy of the Second World War and the end of Europe. The symbols used by Death In June are ambiguous and full of meanings that take us back to a dark past. A luxurious marble version of “Brown Book” was released in 2007 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the album: the symbol of the Totenkopf 6 (Death's Head), used by the SS, is prominently displayed and carved on the top side. This version – limited to 1000 copies – is now sold out and has reached a very high valuation (150-200 Euro) among collectors. It includes 2 CDs, the first being the remastered version of the original “Brown Book” while the second contains 7 alternative versions of tracks already appeared in singles and compilations. Inside the box, there are also 4 fabric patches with the group's symbols, a booklet with photographs, and an English translation of the opening monologue. The 2 CDs are covered in brown velvet.

The Death In June have been accused by detractors of being Nazis, but in any case, the value of their music remains high. Without necessarily embracing ambiguous ideologies, I believe it is impossible not to notice the decadence of the modern world. From this point of view, Death In June symbolizes a sort of Grande Berthe against the vulgarity, decadence, and dishonesty that envelop us. Douglas P. has now exhausted his creative vein, but in the past, he created many masterpieces. His figure can be compared to writers like Jean Genet and Yukio Mishima, Céline, or Dante Virgili.

The first part of “Brown Book” is the best that can be heard in the neo-folk field. The album starts with the macabre nursery rhyme of "Helige Tod" (Holy Death) then it's the turn of "Runes and Men", one of the most evocative moments of the entire Death In June production: it begins with a military fanfare and with the sampling of a Nazi official's voice and then becomes a compelling and irresistible ballad that brings back memories of dark, forgotten times and ancient ancestral symbols of Europe where runes still guided minds and spirit. Both "Hail! The White Grain" and "To Drown A Rose" are epochal "standards" of the genre. In the latter, the voice of guest Rose McDowell is a prominent feature. In this song, the obsession with the symbol of the "rose", very recurring in the imagination and iconography of Death In June, is evoked. Then comes the figure of then-collaborator David Tibet who gives his fundamental contribution to dark litanies such as "Red Dog - Black Dog", "We are the Lust", and "Punishment Initiation" which bring the album's sounds closer to some typical atmospheres of the more occult Current93 from the "Imperium" period.

The title track “Brown Book” is a reinterpretation of the "Horst Wessel Lied", the anthem of the SA, and immerses us in an era that has permanently and tragically marked our history. Many will be shaken by the reprise of such a controversial anthem, but the vision of Douglas P. knows no compromises, a position that has always hampered his career also due to his stubborn refusal to give clear explanations about his actual beliefs. This epochal album closes with "Burn Again", a piece in which an acoustic guitar shines, evoking desolate scenarios accompanied by the spirited and malevolent voice of David Tibet.