On May 12th, 2023, the German electronic-gothic-industrial band, BlutEngel, released a new album with 25 songs and more than 10 videos, that celebrates their 25th anniversary.
The band of Chris Pohl returns to their original sound with this album, exploring topics about vampires, and love betrayal, with 80s musical synth rhythms and catchy lyrics that invite you to dance.
The Songs
1. The Void – Prologue: The first song of the album. An instrumental introduction.
2. King of blood: Electronic-industrial track, about a vampire that tries to convince a woman, a potential victim, to get closer to him.
3. Unsere Zeit läuft ab: 80s vibes, synths, dancing track. Our time is running away, it’s predetermined, and nothing can stop or change it.
4. We belong to the night: Another dancing, 80s track about vampires. With Ulrike Goldmann on vocals.
5. The last crusade: A song that tells us that after living in a thunderstorm, in darkness and fear, we will go to the promised land.
6. Fliegen: Ballad. One of my favorite songs on the album. He sings, with sadness, that he can’t fly because his wings are made of stone. She sings that she is not going to abandon him. Very romantic.
7. Tief: (Deep) About betrayal and abandonment. He sings with anger but nevertheless says that he’s going to wait for 1,000 years for her to return. Electronic. I love the bass line. Very catchy.
8. Dark history: It starts with a very epic and grandiose atmosphere. Ulrike & Chris. He sings in a melancholic tone. Both reaffirm that together they can face and get through everything.
9. Kein Mensch: It presents a harder Chris, that says that he doesn’t want to be like no human because people are bad, they kill other people, and he doesn’t feel identified with that.
10. Shine again: Nostalgic but hopeful. It refers to waiting for something that will change and make our lives better, to be optimistic for the future.
11. Living on the edge of the night (A Gothic anthem): Another vampire song, but in revenge mode. They say that they’re not going to change their ways to fit the rest. It’s a calling to be proud of yourself, even if you’re different.
12. The prophecy: Ulrike sings, very powerfully. An excellent revenge song, feminine power. She says that she is going to be his worst nightmare and get even, giving him what he deserves.
13. Wir sind Unsterblich (Alternative Mix): This is the song that they did during the Coronavirus pandemic, to give people hope when we were in quarantine. Here, as an alternative mix, they added some changes in the instrumental parts.
This is one of my favorite BlutEngel’s songs, because it’s super positive and lovely, at the same time. I did a song review about this song and video, if you want to read it, here it’s the link: https://metalbere.com/blutengel-wir-sind-unsterblich-song-review/
14. Ohne Wiederkehr: Sad song. The ending of a relationship. No return. No possibility to work things out.
15. Can you see me: Another sad, post-break-up song. He doesn’t know what to do, how to carry on, since she went away.
16. Back for blood: Vampire track. Their curse. They are condemned to live forever, to live in the night, to not see the light of the sun or feel the warmth on their skin. It’s not worth living after all your loved ones have passed away, it would be better to die too. Nostalgic feeling, electronic, but danceable too.
17. Journey: He regrets wasting his life and energy fighting for things, people, and relationships that weren’t worth it. Now he talks about returning to look at his own soul.
18. Meine Macht: The Devil offers us power, among other things, but in exchange for our freedom. Musically, some parts remind me of an older BlutEngel song, “Asche zu Asche” https://youtu.be/DtJ0sX6X3eE
19. Sinfull games: Melancholic, sad. He is heartbroken. He wants to be with her, but his heart is not healed yet, and it’s too painful.
20. No suicide song: In the beginning is very unsettling. With different voices that say phrases that one would say before taking your own life, like “I can’t take it anymore”, “I’m afraid”, “I hate my life”, etc. Loud synths. Horror movie vibes.
Then, the same voices say the opposite messages, that now they want to live, “I want to fight”, “This is my life”, and “I’m going to fight for me, for my life”.
21. Our souls will never die: Upbeat, positive. They both sing about keeping on going, fighting our pain and demons because everything will work out in the end, since our souls will live forever.
22. Nobody: It begins with a sad feeling, that no one understands him. Loneliness. The music reminds me a lot of Western rock, with a slide guitar, like Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory” https://youtu.be/MfmYCM4CS8o and rhythm bases.
23. Dunkelheit: Another abandonment ballad. He feels lonely and sad. He can’t forget her.
24. She’s missing…: Ulrike sings of a girl that wonders about what happened to all the people that she knew when she was growing up. That things are no longer as they were when she was younger. And now she feels lonely, she realized that we’re all on our own.
I think that this is one of the most recurring human existential angst, that after all, we only count on ourselves to go through life. Regardless of the deep meaning of the lyrics, the music is super danceable.
25. Frei sein: The music gives you an uplifting and hopeful feeling. The lyrics remember us that after going through Hell in this life, in Eternity we will be free and happy. I think it’s a great song to end this album, in a more positive way.
Most of the songs on this album deal with depression, like “Fliegen” (he tells that he cannot fly because his wings are made of stone. And she tells him that they can help each other). Others are about Chris’s personal experiences.
I think it’s a great album, for any old BlutEngel fan because they have many flashbacks to the old sound and style of the band. But also to any new fan that is curious about the band and wants to get to know more of their music, it’s a great place to start.
Tracklist:
- The Void – Prologue
- King of blood
- Unsere Zeit läuft ab
- We belong to the night
- The last crusade
- Fliegen
- Tief
- Dark history
- Kein Mensch
- Shine again
- Living on the edge of the night (A Gothic anthem)
- The prophecy
- Wir sind Unsterblich (Alternative Mix)
- Ohne Wiederkehr
- Can you see me
- Back for blood
- Journey
- Meine Macht
- Sinfull games
- No suicide song
- Our souls will never die
- Nobody
- Dunkelheit
- She’s missing …
- Frei sein