Heimataerde- Gotteskrieger

Artist: Heimataerde
CD Title: Gotteskrieger
Label: Metropolis Records
Reviewer: Mattew Johnson
Date: 7-3-05

The debut album from Heimataerde is harsh EBM gone Medieval, a nonstop assault of hard synthetic beats balanced out by – of all things – bagpipes. If the “Mad Max” films were set in central Europe instead of Australia, this is what the soundtrack would’ve sounded like. Starting off with the choral horror film music of “Non Nubis,” Heimataerde then launches into dark, orchestral EBM on “Die Offenbarung” and “Endlos.” The entire record is a sort of concept album about a supernatural warrior or knight, but if you don’t speak German you can still appreciate the atmospheres without fully getting the details. “Moerder” speaks in the universal language of Army of Darkness clips, and the instrumental ambience, Gregorian chanting, and howling wolves of “Die Laeterung” do a fine job of conjuring up imagery of haunted, fog-swept countryside no matter what your native tongue. “Ich Hab Die Nacht Getraeumet” is slower but still danceable, more in the vein of Wumpscut than Suicide Commando, while “Gibt Es Wirklich Einen Gott” is some of the most evil-sounding trance-inspired EBM you could ever hope to stomp your boots to. Like a Transylvanian love child of Qntal and Leather Strip, this album is like a pair of combat boots lined in werewolf skin. Maybe you’re in the mood to hit the clubs, or perhaps you’d rather howl forlornly in the moonlit shadows of some ruined Bavarian castle, but no matter your destination you couldn’t find a better CD to pop in your car stereo for the drive.

Visit www.heimataerde.de for more information.