Markus Stock

Welcome to part two of my mini reviews of Empyrium’s later discography. The new year has turned, and winter is upon us which means Empyrium gets a lot of listens from me this time of year. I would say the later half of their discography is some of the most compelling and emotionally resonating (especially for me). The one main difference between earlier records and later records is the length of time between full length albums. “Weiland” came out in 2002 and then “Turn of the Tides” was released 12 years later. Finally, “Über den Sternen” was released seven years later. Each album is unique, but each has that underlining Empyrium sense of dark romanticism and mystical nature worship. I would say that Empyrium have done a lot of experimenting and fine-tuning in their later albums. There is still the ever present dark folk element, but they dabble into more post rock, shoegaze, and gothic aspects of music. There was a lot of patience between each album, but the wait paid off because Empyrium’s later works are astonishing and beautifully introspective across the board.

Weiland (2002) 9/10

When “Weiland” was released, I was so excited to see what new, dark paths Empyrium took and come to find out that the new album was an even longer more substantial medieval dark folk album compared to its predecessor “Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays”. There were so many amazing and compelling aspects of “Weiland” you had the gamut of acoustic strumming, haunting operatic vocals and even tinges of black metal sprinkled throughout the record. Hearing the album takes you into the darkest and mistiest worlds of forests, glades, rivers, and hidden/ancient structures crumbling with time. It magnifies the imagery tenfold compared to “Where at Night…” later in my life I felt “Weiland” has really helped me calm my stress and helped me daydream again. It is not only a mind-clearing listening experience but a mind-altering one as well. Best Songs: Fortgang, Waldpoesie, and Die Schwäne im Schilf

The Turn of the Tides (2014) 8/10

“The Turn of the Tides” was a surprise release for me when I came across it, I thought Empyrium were on an extended hiatus for a long while. 12 years is a long time to wait for new material and when the album was finally released, I was immediately listening to a more post rock/metal/ambient well produced album compared to the more archaic sounds of Empyrium’s earlier releases. There was a sense of modernism to the album but there was a very primal sense of melancholy and wistfulness to the entirety of “The Turn of the Tides” I would say this album hits hard and deep and lacks any gothic romanticism and mysticism. It sounds rawer, more vulnerable, and even airy at times. There is a lot of great songs on here that allows you to let your tears flow but there are a couple songs that seem to just be there without any significant emotion or deeper feeling compared to other songs on “The Turn of the Tides”. Best Songs: Saviour, Dead Winter Ways, and The Days Before the Fall

Über den Sternen (2021) 9/10

“Über den Sternen” is the latest opus by Empyrium and an absolute stunning album in so many amazing ways. It brings back the mystical and nature worship of earlier releases but magnifies it by a million. There is a strong sense of dreamy, misty, and shadowy forests in each of the songs. There is a feeling of wandering those woods and stumbling upon mystical beings and energies at the most unlikely of times. “Über den Sternen” harkens back to some of Empyrium’s black metal/doomy roots which adds a bit of power and heaviness to the listening experience in the best possible way. When I heard the album in its entirety, I felt like that young 22-year-old who was lost in the soundscapes of “Where at Night…” thinking of ghosts, lost love, nature, and the mysteries of the universe. I felt a great sense of comfort and longing again within the music of “Über den Sternen”. The familiarity of Empyrium’s entire discography is found in spades within this record, whatever feelings their music evoked in you over the years it brings those feelings/memories back. Best Songs: The Three Flames Sapphire, The Oaken Throne, and The Wild Swans

Thus concludes my mini reviews of Empyrium’s discography. There is so much variety and intrigue found in each release. If you have a love for mystical/introspective music I would give all their albums a listen and please use a careful ear and an open mind. I guarantee that the imagery, and feelings found in their music will resonate with you long after. It will make you appreciate the nature around you and allow you to daydream and think of dark fairy tales if you allow the music to effect you that way. Healing comes with introspection and a quiet mind and Empyrium’s music will help facilitate that healing in a multitude of ways.

Bandcamp: https://empyrium.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empyriumfans

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4zDkgQanNydhYIqQwQK9Ct/discography

One band that has been a huge foundation for me and my interests in neofolk, classical and black metal is the band Empyrium from Germany. When I first got my hands on “Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays” back in the early 2000s I was immediately hooked to the dark, bardic melodies of Empyrium that allowed me to appreciate the beauty of night and all its mystery and wonders. Since getting lost in their music and diving into their discography deeper and deeper I have grown to develop an affinity to what the world offers when the sun sets. Another element to Empyrium’s music is how much their music hits me in my emotional core. I always found ways to escape the negatives of my existence by getting lost in the enchanting music of Schwadorf (Markus Stock), and Thomas Helm.

I have decided to start another run of mini reviews of Empyrium’s discography and will be beginning with their early albums from 1996 until 1999. I would say the first half of Empyrium’s works where revolutionary during the times of the big three doom metal giants (Anathema, My Dying Bride, and Paradise Lost). Also, their music gave the world a hint of what German black metal could sound like influenced by Ulver’s original black metal trilogy specifically “Kveldssanger” with these first three albums. I would say these years of Empyrium were full of creative, and innovative fire because hearing these earlier works were nothing I have really heard before when I got into underground metal.

A Wintersunset… (1996) 8/10

I listened to this album later in my foray into Empyrium’s music. Hearing “A Wintersunset…” shows a youthful energy that has a mystical even dreamlike quality to the music and production. There are obvious goth tinges mixed in with classical music, and black/doom metal. It reminds me of all the thoughts and memories I have had in my later teens and early twenties regarding melancholia and yearning, but also, escaping from a banal existence. The album evokes misty images of fall and wintertime and wandering through woods and meadows engulfed in the elements. It gives a warm, cold, and even hazy energy to the listening experience. I rate this album a little bit lower because there is a definite naivety to the album, and I think it just comes with being Empyrium’s first album. What makes it such a good album is the fact it gives a precursor to how much Empyrium has grown as musicians in future albums. Best Songs: Under Dreamskies, The Franconian Woods in Winter’s Silence, and The Yearning

Songs of Moors & Misty Fields (1997) 9/10

A year later Empyrium released easily one of their best albums in “Songs of Moors & Misty Fields” hearing this album takes you on a journey unlike any album I have heard. There is a real sense of mystery, wonderment, pain, sadness, and pensiveness to the writing in this album. It takes you down multiple paths to venture and always gives you a beautiful end to the different song trails. The album has a knack for giving real emotions about the sadness of love both unrequited and ending. There is a genuine sense of vulnerability and frustration in both the instruments and lyrics. I think it is one Empyrium’s most well-rounded and consistent albums. The songs are all great quality with great imagery abound. It hits all the right black, doom, goth, and folk notes in every single song. It is the perfect atmospheric record to listen to and it does an incredible job getting you lost in its various nooks and crannies throughout. Best Songs: The Blue Mists of Night, Lover’s Grief, and The Ensemble of Silence

Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays (1999) 10/10

Surprisingly “Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays” was my first real introduction to the neofolk/dark folk sound. It is to this day my all time favorite Empyrium record. When I first got the CD and put it into my player I was immediately lost in the bardic, mystical, and medieval sounds of the album. I absolutely loved the vocals it brought out the dreamlike vibe to the album in a multitude of ways. The album brought me back to ancient times of decrepit castles, wandering ghosts, dark woods, and meadows dancing with mist and fireflies. There is a real sense of pastoral nature throughout the record. Hearing the album while driving at night in the woods of New Hampshire is the perfect place and time to get lost in the music and imagery. When it comes to a potential soundtrack of night and its mysteries “Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays” is the way to go. Best Songs: All of them!