Empyrium
Empyrium is a German symphonic folk/doom metal and (later) neofolk/dark folk band. HistoryEmpyrium was founded in 1994 by Markus Stock (mostly using the pseudonym Ulf Theodor Schwadorf) and Andreas Bach, but later many other musicians participated. The band draws inspiration from nature. Empyrium are often referred to as a dark folk or apocalyptic folk band[citation needed], expressing in their music sentiments akin to those expressed by some other 'legislators' of the genre, Forseti, Orplid, and Ulver (Kveldssanger)[citation needed]. Like the Norwegian black metal band Burzum, Empyrium also used a Theodor Kittelsen drawing on one of their album covers (Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays). Metal recordsTheir first two albums, A Wintersunset and Songs of Moors and Misty Fields, following a demo entitled ...Der wie ein Blitz vom Himmel fiel..., are considered doom metal (or folk metal) with folk and symphonic influences. They combine harsh and operatic male vocals, with deep slow guitar parts and atmospheric sounds. Acoustic recordsThe following two albums, Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays and Weiland are acoustic, display a constantly heavier neofolk influence. Instead of keyboards, the band switched to acoustic instruments such as acoustic guitars, violins, cellos and the flute. Operatic male vocals are still used, and in Weiland the band uses choir vocals and the piano. Though the music remains dark and melancholic, Empyrium's music has largely moved away from metal. DepartureAfter their 2002 album, Weiland, the band decided to stop recording. As Schwadorf himself put it,
A RetrospectiveIn August 2006, Empyrium's label, Prophecy Productions, announced publicly for the first time that a new album was going to be released in late November the same year. Called A Retrospective, it is a look back on the history of the band. Aside from ten remastered tracks from their previous albums, it contains a re-recorded version of The Franconian Woods In Winter's Silence from the album A Wintersunset, as well as two new tracks in the neofolk style of late Empyrium (Der Weiher and Am Wolkenstieg). The sixty-page booklet provides an extensive account of the musical influences of the band, and how Empyrium has changed over the years. The album leaked onto the Internet in early November 2006. ComebackOn September 17, 2010, Prophecy Productions and Schwadorf personally announced that the band had reunited and revealed plans to release a new album soon, beside contributing to the label's upcoming v/a compilation Whom The Moon A Nightsong Sings.[2]
DiscographyDemos
Studio albums
EPs
Compilation albums
Live albums
Line-up
See also
References
External links
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