A stunning discography which brought them diversified comparisons to bands like LAIBACH, DAS ICH, BLUTENGEL, SKINNY PUPPY, NACHTMAHR or yet QNTAL. 

In 2018, the Dutch combo unleash their 4th studio album “Idisi”, named after a divine female being in Germanic mythology. A tree with deep roots, inspired by lore and legacy. An album that makes you travel in time but also and more than ever before across the world! Still deeply rooted in Germanic and Franconian ancestry, this new opus launches an eastwards exploration into new lyrical and musical territories, rich with sounds and languages from the Old World. 

SCHWARZBLUT are so unique in their way of connecting time, geographical orientation and texts with their avant-garde and electronic music arrangements, that it clearly attests the band’s outstanding historical awareness and creativity. The new album features this time texts in a variety of historical European languages such as Middle High German, Lower Franconian, Old Lower Saxon and Old Dutch. 

Freedom, identity and the celebration of diversity have always been recurring topics in literature. But what is freedom? The exploration of this question gets translated here into a personal, atmospheric and strong musical statement. Including an adaptation of the classical piece Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736), a tribute to Vlad III (c. 1428-c.1476) based on a text written during his time of life, and a song in Middle Dutch from the 1540 book ‘Souterliedekens’. 

From the opening track ‘Eiris sâzun idisi’, with its powerful First Merseburg Incantation (Old High German, 9th/10th century) giving the song a great rhythmical drive. All the way up to the album’s closing hymn ‘Ghaselen des Dschelal-eddin Rumi’, with its mystique atmosphere set by the 1819 German translation of works by the 13th-century Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273), this new “Idisi” album reveals a band who took the luxury of giving time to time… It actually took them some 4 years to complete it, besides the splendid intermezzo collaboration release with SAELDES SANC on last year’s “Wildes Herz” split-album. They took the time to truly connect to each other and the material and concept they were working on: studying the language, life and customs of their ancestors gave the SCHWARZBLUT members valuable insights in their own habits, beliefs and traditions. And by putting all this into music, the band once again hands out a more than valuable testimony. 

This limited 2CD box edition comes with an 8-track bonus disc offering 3 bonus remixes and above all a series of 5 exclusive ‘meditation’ soundtracks made of environmental recordings, audio experiments and vocal intensity carrying the listener inside the Hagia Sophia, at a western European harbor or yet in a morning forest… 

The post Schwarzblut – Idisi 2CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

A stunning discography which brought them diversified comparisons to bands like LAIBACH, DAS ICH, BLUTENGEL, SKINNY PUPPY, NACHTMAHR or yet QNTAL. 

In 2018, the Dutch combo unleash their 4th studio album “Idisi”, named after a divine female being in Germanic mythology. A tree with deep roots, inspired by lore and legacy. An album that makes you travel in time but also and more than ever before across the world! Still deeply rooted in Germanic and Franconian ancestry, this new opus launches an eastwards exploration into new lyrical and musical territories, rich with sounds and languages from the Old World. 

SCHWARZBLUT are so unique in their way of connecting time, geographical orientation and texts with their avant-garde and electronic music arrangements, that it clearly attests the band’s outstanding historical awareness and creativity. The new album features this time texts in a variety of historical European languages such as Middle High German, Lower Franconian, Old Lower Saxon and Old Dutch. 

Freedom, identity and the celebration of diversity have always been recurring topics in literature. But what is freedom? The exploration of this question gets translated here into a personal, atmospheric and strong musical statement. Including an adaptation of the classical piece Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736), a tribute to Vlad III (c. 1428-c.1476) based on a text written during his time of life, and a song in Middle Dutch from the 1540 book ‘Souterliedekens’. 

From the opening track ‘Eiris sâzun idisi’, with its powerful First Merseburg Incantation (Old High German, 9th/10th century) giving the song a great rhythmical drive. All the way up to the album’s closing hymn ‘Ghaselen des Dschelal-eddin Rumi’, with its mystique atmosphere set by the 1819 German translation of works by the 13th-century Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273), this new “Idisi” album reveals a band who took the luxury of giving time to time… It actually took them some 4 years to complete it, besides the splendid intermezzo collaboration release with SAELDES SANC on last year’s “Wildes Herz” split-album. They took the time to truly connect to each other and the material and concept they were working on: studying the language, life and customs of their ancestors gave the SCHWARZBLUT members valuable insights in their own habits, beliefs and traditions. And by putting all this into music, the band once again hands out a more than valuable testimony. 

The new SCHWARZBLUT album also gets released as a limited 2CD box edition with an 8-track bonus disc offering 3 bonus remixes and above all a series of 5 exclusive ‘meditation’ soundtracks made of environmental recordings, audio experiments and vocal intensity carrying the listener inside the Hagia Sophia, at a western European harbor or yet in a morning forest… 

The post Schwarzblut – Idisi CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

For the recording of “Wildes Herz”, SAELDES SANC members Hannah Wagner (vocals and piano, also in HELIUM VOLA together with DEINE LAKAIEN’s Ernst Horn) and Georg Börner (violin and nyckelharpa, now in SANGRE DE MUERDAGO) travelled from their hometown Leipzig, Germany to The Netherlands, to join SCHWARZBLUT in a 5-day studio session in their hometown Deventer. 

Being in the same recording room, sharing ideas and energy added immensely to the power of the performances and thus to the quality of the songs. The way how Hannah and Angelika’s voices blend, lifts the dark and thrilling sound of SCHWARZBLUT’s tracks ‘Palästinalied’ (a collaborative version of this true classic in the genre) and ‘Ich minne sinne’ to new heights. Whereas Zeon’s instrumentation on SAELDES SANC’s tracks ‘Lucy Gray’ and ‘Mit manger fröide und liebes vil’ shows how this collaboration brings forth new styles in percussion and atmospheric musical layering. 

With the use of hurdy-gurdy (a splendid job by Fieke van den Hurk), piano, nyckelharpa and violin “Wildes Herz” sounds organic and honest. Filled with strong characters, strong voices and wild hearts. Highly recommended for fans of HELIUM VOLA, ARCANA, DEAD CAN DANCE, QNTAL, SOPOR AETERNUS, GARMARNA, FAUN, etc.

The post Schwarzblut vs Saeldes Sanc – Wildes Herz MCD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

This EP features a fine selection of interpretations of SCHWARZBLUT’s music from all around the globe.
From a geeky Commodore 64 remix, to the metal guitars of HELL:SECTOR. From the prophecy of doom by CARDINALE NOIRE, to the haunted hypnotic chants of PRE:EMPTIVE STRIKE 0.1. The EP also features two loud-and-proud remixes by BINARY DIVISION and NOISE JUNK, that made them the winners of SCHWAZBLUT’s remix contest…

Putting SCHWARZBLUT’s raw recordings in the hands of others resulted in a broad variety of remixes that makes the 10-track “Judas” EP reflect SCHWARZBLUT’s approach to music: wholehearted, unrestricted, tying old words to the current state of affairs.

A full conceptual work again from this unique collective work of art SCHWARZBLUT (full name: Die goetheanistische Tonkunstgesellschaft Schwarzblut) whose work is based on historic German poetry and carried by organic-electronic music and which is constantly outlined by a haunting visual context of imagery in their artwork and live performances…

The post Schwarzblut -Judas EP appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

The Medieval-Gothic Folk Ensemble SAELDES SANC is the solo-project of Hannah Wagner who is also known for her enchanting vocal performance with HELIUM VOLA together with Ernst Horn (DEINE LAKAIEN). SCHWARZBLUT (full name: Die goetheanistische Tonkunstgesellschaft Schwarzblut) is a Dutch Gesamstkunstwerk, a collective work of art, based on historic German poetry and carried by organic-electronic music.

Both Hannah (SAELDES SANC) and Zeon (SCHWARZBLUT) share a passion for ancient languages and romantic poetry that they enjoy transforming into genuine melancholic compositions carrying you away into a dreamworld of grandeur…

Captivated by Hannah’s enormous talent both as a composer and performer, Zeon approached her for a possible collaboration. “Before I knew, I found myself working on a remix of ‘Virginis Memoriae’”, says SCHWARZBLUT’s mastermind.  “I picked that song because of its beautiful melodies and emotional vocal performance. (…) My aim was to put Hannah’s voice in a new organic-electronic context, while keeping the atmosphere and drama of her operatic performance.”

“When I first heard the remix, it was quite bombastic for me”; says Hannah Wagner; “SAELDES SANC and electronic sounds? That was something completely new for me! I didn’t know what to expect from the remix before I heard it, but I was really gobsmacked when the deep basses of the SCHWARZBLUT remix provided a rich background to the soft sounds of SAELDES SANC. It’s fascinating for me to listen to the SCHWARZBLUT version of one of my personal oldest songs and to feel invited to dance by the intense rhythms of this remix.”

Next to this splendid collaboration, SCHWARZBLUT also seize the opportunity to present a new song from the recording sessions of their forthcoming 4th studio album, which relates in many points to SAELDES SANC’s universe: “Both ‘Virginis Memoriae’ and ‘Lied der Freiheit’ contain old languages, being Latin and Old Lower Franconian.  Both songs have strong female characters taking the lead vocal parts. Both songs also present themselves as statements of artistic individuality and freedom.”

The 2-track single is available for download now from Bandcamp, see player below.

The post Saeldes Sanc vs. Schwarzblut – Virginis Memoriae EP appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

“In the sphere of thought, absurdity and perversity remain the masters of the world, and their dominion is suspended only for brief periods.” These words by Arthur Schopenhauer define Schwarzblut’s new EP ‘Bis aufs Blut’ (Eng: Until it bleeds). It is a manifestation of their passion for dramatic German poetry and their lust for haunting sounds. The EP gives a taste of what’s to come on Schwarzblut’s forthcoming album ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’, of which both the title track ‘Bis aufs Blut’ and the song ‘Zur Hölle’ are promising omens. Lyrically these songs give profound views on man’s eternal enticement to sin and wickedness. Dealing with the timelessness of ‘Gula’ and ‘Luxuria’, two of the ‘Peccatum mortiferum’ (Eng: cardinal sins). But be not mistaken, for this EP is serious dancefloor material! The percussive grooves and orchestral arrangements display an interesting and powerful evolution in the band’s sound and song writing.

The clubby remixes of ‘Zur Hölle’ by XMH and Psy’Aviah keep that energy flowing. Schwarzblut has been known for their energetic live shows since 2008. Hence ‘Bis aufs Blut’ also features a live session recording of ‘Das Mandat’. Catching the band in full live show line-up at their dirtiest. More drums, more bass, more Schwarzblut…until it bleeds!

This EP is only available as a download via Bandcamp (see player below).

The post Schwarzblut – Bis aufs blut EP appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

On “Alfa Matrix Re:covered – a tribute to Depeche Mode” the Alfa Matrix label united the electronic sounds from the Alfa Matrix label artists with some of the best songs pop history has ever heard from one single band. All electronic music genres have their very own ambassadors on this double CD compilation including interpretations by Sebastian Komor (Zombie Girl, Komor Kommando, …), Jean-Luc Demeyer (Front 242), Claus larsen (Leaether Strip) and many more. 32 tracks in total !

This 2CD comes with a Free extra EP!

The post Various Artists – Alfa Matrix re:covered vol. 1- a tribute to Depeche Mode 2CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

Today the Alfa Matrix label roster is paying homage to this great and unique band: THE CURE, choosing classic radio hits but also songs that are less known to the public-at-large but which deserve even more to be heard again, showing that the songs written by Robert Smith and current/ex-members also lend themselves to different music style treatments… All electronic music genres have their very own ambassadors on this 31-track double CD compilation from electro dance to pop rock through dark elektro and modern EBM. Compiled by and for THE CURE fans, “A Strange Play – a tribute to The Cure” will offer you astounding interpretations of classic hits like “A Forest” (MARI CHROME), “Just Like Heaven” (LOVELORN DOLLS), “Charlotte Sometimes” (KANT KINO), “Lullaby” (CYNICAL EXISTENCE), “The Walk” (STAR INDUSTRY), “The Lovecats” (JUNKSISTA), “Fascination Street” (ZOMBIE GIRL), “Lovesong” (SEBASTIAN KOMOR), “Close To Me” (METROLAND), “Pictures Of You” (DIFFUZION), “Why Can’t I Be You” (PLASTIC NOISE EXPERIENCE), etc. But some Alfa Matrix bands also dug deeper within THE CURE’s huge discography and vast repertoire of songs, covering tracks like “In Your House” (ALIEN VAMPIRES), “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” (KANT KINO), “Cold” (TOTEM OBSCURA), “The Drowning Man” (TECHNOIR), “A Strange Day” (AIBOFORCEN), Lament (MONDTRÄUME), “The Figurehead” (SCHWARTZBLUT), “A Night Like This” (XMH), “The Baby Screams” (ARMAGEDDON DILDOS), “Fight” (I:SCINTILLA), “Anniversary” (AESTHETISCHE), “Burn” (HELALYN FLOWERS & ESSENCE OF MIND), “Friday I’m In Love” (COSMIC ARMCHAIR), “Prayers For Rain” (HALO IN REVERSE & REGENERATOR), “Disintegration” (AVARICE IN AUDIO), “Trust” (ACYLUM), “All Cats Are Grey” (AIBOFORCEN), or yet “Sleep When I’m Dead” (NEIKKA RPM). 

THE CURE was, is, and will continue to be a major influence and reference, conscious or not, for many underground artists and music lovers. We hope that together with us you will rediscover THE CURE in a way you didn’t expect, cruising through their vast catalogue in different soundscapes but always remaining faithful to the band’s darker sound.

Artwork by Nøemi Aurora at Toxic-Visions.com.

The post Various Artists – A strange play – an alfa matrix tribute to The Cure 2CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

The group was founded in 2007 and signed with Alfa Matrix in 2009.Through Alfa Matrix the band released the EP ‘Sehlenwolf’ (2009), their debut album ‘Das Mausoleum’ (2010) and their sophomore full-length release ’Maschinenwesen’ (2012). Early 2014 Schwarzblut returned to the scene with the 5-track EP ‘Bis aufs Blut’. Now the band releases their 3rd full-length album ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’, an upbeat album full of raw synths combined with film score-like orchestrations. “For the world is Hell, and men are on one hand the tormented souls and on the other the devils in it.” – Arthur Schopenhauer, taken from the song ‘Judas’.

These words define Schwarzblut’s new album ‘Gebeyn allerVerdammten’ (Eng: Bones of the damned). On this 3rd album the band amplifies man’s eternal enticement to sin and wickedness. Each song gives the listener a view on one of the ‘Peccatum mortiferum’ (Eng: cardinal sins). The album includes texts by 17th, 18th and 19th century poets and philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), Friedrich Theodor Vischer (1807-1887) and Moritz Graf von Strachwitz (1822-1847). Despite being their most up-tempo album ever, ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’ features the band’s most prominent classical arrangements to date. 

Kapellmeister Carsten Altena gave every song a striking film score-like orchestration. From the beat driven cello of ‘Wer vom Ziel nicht Weiß’, to the Wagnerian horns of ‘Bisaufs Blut’, to the marching percussion of ‘Lied der Rache’.Every sin sounds as big as the other, with guest musicians providing cello and percussion to add to the lively feel of the music. The angelic voice ofAngèlika and harsh vocals of Zeon prove an excellent duo in channeling the various emotions.

The album has a particular broad vocal variety, ranging from classical Latin chants on ‘Das Lob der Faulheit’ to grimly whispering on ‘Judas’ and even vocoded voices on ‘Bis aufs Blut’. With ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’ Schwarzblut shows an interesting development in their songwriting, choice of lyrics and overall artistic performance. This album is by far their most profound and powerful album. With many tracks fit for the dancefloor, and for those into LAIBACH, BLUTENGEL, SKINNY PUPPY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY and DAS ICH.

This 2CD ltd boxset includes the 8-track remix bonus disk ‘Korperreliquien’ with remixes from CONSUMERJUNK, ANGELS & AGONY, NOCX, HELALYN FLOWERS, STURM VS PASZ, AESTHETISCHE, ZEON and CARSTEN ALTENA.

The post Schwarzblut – Gebeyn aller Verdammten 2CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.

The group was founded in 2007 and signed with Alfa Matrix in 2009.Through Alfa Matrix the band released the EP ‘Sehlenwolf’ (2009), their debut album ‘Das Mausoleum’ (2010) and their sophomore full-length release ’Maschinenwesen’ (2012). Early 2014 Schwarzblut returned to the scene with the 5-track EP ‘Bis aufs Blut’. Now the band releases their 3rd full-length album ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’, an upbeat album full of raw synths combined with film score-like orchestrations. “For the world is Hell, and men are on one hand the tormented souls and on the other the devils in it.” – Arthur Schopenhauer, taken from the song ‘Judas’.

These words define Schwarzblut’s new album ‘Gebeyn allerVerdammten’ (Eng: Bones of the damned). On this 3rd album the band amplifies man’s eternal enticement to sin and wickedness. Each song gives the listener a view on one of the ‘Peccatum mortiferum’ (Eng: cardinal sins). The album includes texts by 17th, 18th and 19th century poets and philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), Friedrich Theodor Vischer (1807-1887) and Moritz Graf von Strachwitz (1822-1847). Despite being their most up-tempo album ever, ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’ features the band’s most prominent classical arrangements to date. 

Kapellmeister Carsten Altena gave every song a striking film score-like orchestration. From the beat driven cello of ‘Wer vom Ziel nicht Weiß’, to the Wagnerian horns of ‘Bisaufs Blut’, to the marching percussion of ‘Lied der Rache’.Every sin sounds as big as the other, with guest musicians providing cello and percussion to add to the lively feel of the music. The angelic voice ofAngèlika and harsh vocals of Zeon prove an excellent duo in channeling the various emotions.

The album has a particular broad vocal variety, ranging from classical Latin chants on ‘Das Lob der Faulheit’ to grimly whispering on ‘Judas’ and even vocoded voices on ‘Bis aufs Blut’. With ‘Gebeyn aller Verdammten’ Schwarzblut shows an interesting development in their songwriting, choice of lyrics and overall artistic performance. This album is by far their most profound and powerful album. With many tracks fit for the dancefloor, and for those into LAIBACH, BLUTENGEL, SKINNY PUPPY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY and DAS ICH.

This CD is also available as an extended bonus tracks download – see the player below.

The post Schwarzblut – Gebeyn aller Verdammten CD appeared first on Alfa Matrix Store.