Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 08:07
Written by Robert Eaton
Artist: Heimataerde
CD title: Unwesen
Label: Metropolis Records
Genre: Electro/EBM
Reviewer: Robert Eaton
Date: 2-18-11
Heimataerde is a solo electro/EBM project out of Germany. “Unwesen” is Heimataerde’s fourth full-length album for Metropolis. Heimatearde mixes EBM and electro with some medieval sounding instruments. The music that results from this odd mixture is dark and catchy.
The album opens with “Gotteskrieger” a driving industrial track with chanted vocals and grinding guitars. “Niemals Mehr” is slower and more melodic, with orchestral touches. The song slowly builds into a very danceable chorus. “Gloria et Morte” features driving synth programming and erie spoken vocals. “Dark Dance” is a floor ready stomper with a haunting melodic hook. It’s a standout track on the album. “Des Spielmanns Lied” opens with a haunting melody, and builds into a great melodic hook in the chorus. “Maarat an Numan” mixes electro with a very traditional sounding melody, it’s a very effective mix. “Wie ein Tier” has a decidedly lo-fi sound, it’s a nice nod to old-school EBM. “Gottgleich” is guitar-driven and an intense song with erie out-of-tune touches in the chorus.
Heimataerde makes great EBM with an interesting theatrical bent. The mixing of musical elements, old and new, makes “Unwesen” an album that often surprises the listener. “Unwesen” is another solid release in the project’s catalogue. If you’re not already a fan of Heimataerde, consider checking out this album.