Dunkelwerk- Hollenbrut

Artist: Dunkelwerk

CD Title: Hollenbrut

Label: Alfa-Matrix

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 2-15-10

Dunkelwerk has returned with another conceptual album: “Hollenbrut” based on dark mythic imagery and the “endzeit” concept. The album follows 2005’s “Troops.” The album is often martialistic as well as melodic. The subject matter, the music, and the lyrics are characteristically bombastic. The album tells a narrative of the pursuit of a cruel queen through a mythical land. Borrowing heavily from mythic-literature and fairy-tale, the album spins its narrative in both German and English. The album opens with the song “The Majesty of Vengeance,” sets the albums tone with orchestral touches and mythological subject matter. The albums lyrics are delivered with little vocal processing—which is uncommon for an electro act--often just between spoken and sung. The result is a rather stripped sounding album with beautiful and melodic moments, such as in the song “Endzeit (Vanitas).” Also, “Grabgesang” is dark and brooding, and the composition is fitting of the strange mythological subject matter of the album. Some of the best songs are the slow and melodic songs which give room for the arrangements to breath. “Mir Licht” is much more up-tempo, and would make a great dance-floor song. The album’s subject and lyrics are more thoughtful than a fair deal of harsh-electro, even though it may turn off some listeners. Likewise, the songs and the programming are a cut above a lot of current electro acts. The best songs on the album create a brooding musical tapestry around the album’s narrative.

Check out the band: https://www.myspace.com/dunkelwerk and www.dunkelwerk.de