Atrocity
One of Germany's most enduring metal bands, Atrocity deserves a
nomination for Most Unconventional Recording Career for a metal
band.
Having released
Hallucinations in 1990, the band was hailed
as a death metal innovator, with a rather twisted, dark, technical
style molded around a solid death metal base.
A solid followup in
Todessehnsucht (re-titled, against the
band's wishes, as
Longing For Death) further solidified their
popularity.
But it was 1994's
B.L.U.T. that started the trend toward
unconventionalism -- loosely based on a vampire theme and sounding
little like their past work, the album seemed to confuse, and
in some cases alienate, fans and critics alike, though in fact the
album is quite worthwhile.
The succeeding years found Atrocity experimenting in all sorts of
areas, with one album featuring the vocalist's sister as guest
vocalist (
Calling The Rain), another album a collaboration with
the German new wave duo Das Ich (on
Die Liebe), and perhaps
most dramatic, an album consisting entirely of covers of 80's pop
tunes (
Werk 80), which simply has to be heard to be believed.
Clearly not the career of a band afraid to take chances.
Finally, in 2000 the band released Gemini.
It might be simplistic to say that any band that sings in German
with a techno beat sounds like
Rammstein,
but in fact there is quite a similarity to that group on more than
one occasion (also featured here is an interesting cover of
Simon and Garfunkel's
"The Sound Of Silence", a duet with Liv Kristine of
Theatre Of Tragedy,
who also guested on Werk 80).
And, except for those who only wish a return to their early days,
this new direction is not a bad thing, as Gemini is a great album.
2004 sees the release of the followup to Gemini, that being
Atlantis (not yet reviewed here).
Discography
Hallucinations
1990
Roadrunner
 |
- Deep in your subconscious
- Life is a long and silent river
- Fatal Step
- Abyss of addiction
- Hallucinations
- Defeated Intellect
- Last temptation
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Richard Scharff
- Oliver Klassen
- Michael Schwarz
|
Todessehnsucht (also: Longing For Death)
1992
Roadrunner
 |
- Todessehnsucht
- Godless Years
- Unspoken Names
- Defiance
- Triumph At Dawn
- Introduction
- Sky Turned Red
- Necropolis
- A Prison Called Earth
- Todessehnsucht (Reprise)
- Archangel
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Richard Scharff
- Michael Schwarz
|
B.L.U.T.
1994
Roadrunner
 |
- Trial
- Miss Directed
- ...In My Veins
- B.L.U.T. (Blood-lust, Under Trance)
- I'm In Darkness
- Calling The RPain
- Moon-struck
- Ever And Amon
- Begotten Son (Of Wrath)
- Into The Maze
- Goddess In Black
- Threnody
- Soul Embrace (Instrumental)
- Land Beyond The Forest
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Richard Scharff
- Markus Knapp
- Michael Schwarz
|
Die Liebe
1995
Massacre
 |
- Die Liebe
- Moonstrucker
- Bloodlust (undead trance)
- Misdirected
- Parentalia
- Trial by Ordeal
- Unschuld
- Von Leid und Elend und Seelenqualen
- Die Todgeweihten
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Richard Scharff
- Christian Lukhaup
- Michael Schwarz
|
Calling The Rain
1995
Massacre
 |
|
- Alexander Krull
- Yasmin Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Richard Scharff
- Thorsten Bauer
- Markus Knapp
- Christian Lukhaup
- Michael Schwarz
|
Willenskraft
1996
Massacre
 |
- Intro
- Scorching Breath
- Deliverance
- Blood-Stained Prophecy
- Love Is Dead
- We Are Degeneration
- Willenskraft
- For Ever And A Day
- Seal Of Secrecy
- Down Below
- The Hunt
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Thorsten Bauer
- Christian Lukhaup
- Michael Schwarz
|
Werk 80
1997
Massacre
 |
- Shout
- Wild Boys
- The Great Commandment
- Send Me An Angel
- Tainted Love
- Der Mussolini
- Being Boiled
- Let's Dance
- Maid Of Orleans
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Thorsten Bauer
- Christian Lukhaup
- Michael Schwarz
|
Non Plus Extra
1999
Massacre
 |
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Thorsten Bauer
- Christian Lukhaup
- Martin Schmidt
|
Gemini
2000
Massacre
 |
- Taste of Sin
- Zauberstab
- Tanz mit dem Teufel
- Liebesspiel
- Wilder Schmetterling
- Sound of silence
- Das Gebot
- Sometimes...a nightsong
- Seasons in black
- Gemini
- Lili Marleen
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Thorsten Bauer
- Christian Lukhaup
- Martin Schmidt
|
2000 BNR Top Ten album
Reviews: Metal Observer
Atlantis
2004
Napalm
 |
- Reich Of Phenomena
- Superior Race
- Gods Of Nations
- Ichor
- Enigma
- Morbid Mind
- Omen
- Cold Black Days
- Atlantean Empire
- Clash Of The Titans
- Apocalypse
- Lost Eden
- The Sunken Paradise
- Aeon
- Ein Volk
|
- Alexander Krull
- Mathias Roderer
- Thorsten Bauer
- Christian Lukhaup
- Martin Schmidt
|
Reviews: Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
Werk 80 II
2008
Napalm
 |
- People Are People
- Smalltown Boy
- Relax
- Don't You (Forget About Me)
- The Sun Always Shines on TV
- Hey Little Girl
- Fade To Grey
- Such A Shame
- Keine Heimat
- Here Comes The Rain Again
- Forever Young
- Feels Like Heaven
|
|
Reviews: Sea Of Tranquility
Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
After The Storm
2010
Napalm
 |
- A New Arrival
- Call Of Yesteryear
- After The Storm
- Silvan Spirit
- Black Mountain
- As The Sun Kissed The Sky
- Transilvania
- The Flight Of Abbas Ibn Firnas
- Goddess Of Fortune and Sorrow
- The Otherworld
- Eternal Nightside
|
- Alexander Krull
- Yasmin Krull
- Thorsten Bauer
- Sander van der Meer
- Alla Fedynitch
- Roland Navratil
|
Reviews: Metal Observer
Die Gottlosen Jahre
2012
