DORNENREICH have always been more than just your average Metal band. Starting out as some kind of progressive Black Metal act they constantly kept searching for new ways to express their unique vision, which led to results that may not always have been embraced even by their own, supposedly rather open-minded audience. Their latest work “In Luft Geritzt” (“Carved In Air”) surely marks the boldest statement in that development yet. The only instruments used in the creation are acoustic guitar and violin while the lyrics are mostly whispered in the highly emotional performance that one has come to expect from this outfit. And while such a drastic reduction may easily have led to just another boring unplugged record in lesser hands, DORNENREICH manage to get closer to the essence of their art than ever before. Most of the record has been captured live and as far as I’m concerned this is a crucial point in the success of this experiment. The whole sound is alive and vital in a way these ears seldom had the pleasure to experience before, the music is virtually breathing. The intensity and urgency of the music is simply breathtaking, despite – or rather due to? – the sparse instrumentation. Now keep in mind that this is certainly not for everyone and if you just download this one to see what’s become of that band you loved back than when they released “Her Von Welken Nächten”, you’re probably in for a disappointment. But if you dig a little deeper you’ll find that this daring and challenging record carries the same spirit. Natural progression combined with artistic integrity, that’s what makes DORNENREICH so special in a scene which often seems full of pretence. Once more a release well worth their label’s slogan: “Eerie emotional music”! www.prophecyproductions.de