Origin: Germany  
Genres:
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Page online: May 14, 2004
Last update/review: April 3, 2021

Empyrium

The German band Empyrium enjoyed a rather unique, if not particularly long, musical career, in a field more or less by themselves. Basically, Empyrium recorded two metal albums followed by two non-metal albums, and though the transition from metal to non-metal is natural and seemless, it might be easiest to describe the two phases of the band separately. The first two albums, A Wintersunset and Songs Of Moors And Misty Fields, are best described as atmospheric doom, with an emphasis on longer, relaxed, drawn out passages, with numerous acoustic instruments (keyboards, flutes, clarinets) complementing the guitars, and several folk elements alongside the more traditional doom riffs. The vocals alternate between a black rasp and an attempt at a deeper, goth baritone (not always successful, at least at this stage of his career). Though Moors is the more developed of the two (and thus a slight favorite over Wintersunset), both of these albums retain a rich majestic feel that should win them favor among atmospheric doom fans.

Following the first two albums came Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays in 1999, followed by Weiland in 2002. These two album essentially drop the metallic aspect of the band and focuses on the acoustic folk element that was present on the first two albums. The dark moods remain, and the vocals are much improved (the original vocalist is better, and he is complemented by a trained classical vocalist). Though there's nothing on these albums related to metal (or even rock), they are similarly interesting from an emotional standpoint. The band decided they had accomplished all they had wanted to, and broke up after the release of Weiland, but reformed in 2010.

Current Members

Schwadorf (Markus Stock)

vocals/guitars (ex-Autumnblaze, Ewigheim, Noekk, The Vision Bleak)

Thomas Helm

vocals/keyboards (Noekk)

Former Members/Guests

Nadine Wolter (guest)

flute/cello

Andreas Bach

keyboards



Discography



A Wintersunset  
1996 Prophecy
  1. Moonromanticism
  2. Under Dreamskies
  3. The Franconian Woods In Winter's Silence
  4. The Yearning
  5. Autumn Grey Views
  6. Ordain'd To Thee
  7. A Gentle Grieving Farewell Kiss
  • Schwadorf
  • Nadine Wolter
  • Andreas Bach



Songs Of Moors And Misty Fields  
1997 Prophecy
  1. When Shadows Grow Longer
  2. The Blue Mists Of Night
  3. Mourners
  4. Ode To Melancholy
  5. Lover's Grief
  6. The Ensemble Of Silence
  • Schwadorf
  • Nadine Wolter
  • Andreas Bach



Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays  
1999 Prophecy
  1. Where at night the wood grouse plays
  2. Dying brokenhearted
  3. The shepherd and the maiden ghost
  4. The sad song of the wind
  5. Wehmut
  6. A pastoral theme
  7. Abendrot
  8. Many moons ago...
  9. When shadows grow longer
  • Schwadorf
  • Nadine Wolter



Weiland  
2002 Prophecy
  1. Kein Hirtenfeuer Mehr Glimmt
  2. Heimwarts
  3. Nebel
  4. Fortgang
  5. A Cappella
  6. Nachhall
  7. Waldpoesie
  8. Die Schwane Im Schilf
  9. Am Wasserfall
  10. Fossegrim
  11. Der Nir
  12. Das Blau-Kristallne Kammerlein
  • Schwadorf
  • Nadine Wolter
  • Thomas Helm
2002 Readers' Album #97




A Retrospective ...  COMPILATION
2006 Prophecy
  1. The Franconian Woods In Winter's Silence
  2. A Gentle Grieving Farewell Kiss
  3. The Blue Mists Of Night
  4. Mourners
  5. Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays
  6. Dying Brokenhearted
  7. The Shepherd And The Maiden Ghost
  8. Heimwärts
  9. Waldpoesie
  10. Die Schwäne Im Schilf
  11. Das Blau-Kristallne Kämmerlein
  12. Der Weiher
  13. Am Wolkenstieg



Into The Pantheon  LIVE
2013 Prophecy
  1. Intro
  2. The Days Before the Fall
  3. The Franconian Woods in Winter's Silence
  4. Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays
  5. Heimwärts
  6. Mourners
  7. Die Schwäne im Schilf
  8. Dead Winter Ways
  9. Der Weiher
  10. Many Moons Ago
  11. Das blau-kristallne Kämmerlein
  • Schwadorf
  • Thomas Helm



Into The Pantheon  VIDEO
2013 Prophecy



Dead Winter Ways  EP
2013 Prophecy
  1. Dead Winter Ways
  2. Dead Winter Ways (Live)
  • Schwadorf
  • Thomas Helm



Bochum | Christuskirche | 2012  LIVE
2013 Prophecy
  1. The Days Before the Fall
  2. The Franconian Woods in Winter's Silence
  3. Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays
  4. Heimwärts
  5. Mourners
  6. Die Schwäne im Schilf
  7. Dead Winter Ways
  8. Der Weiher
  9. Many Moons Ago
  10. Das blau-kristallne Kämmerlein
  • Schwadorf
  • Thomas Helm



The Mill  EP
2015
  1. Saviour
  2. Dead Winter Ways
  3. In the Gutter of This Spring
  4. The Days Before the Fall
  5. We Are Alone
  6. With the Current into Grey
  7. The Turn of the Tides
  • Schwadorf
  • Thomas Helm



Über Den Sternen  
2021 Prophecy
  1. The Three Flames Sapphire
  2. A Lucid Tower Beckons on the Hills Afar
  3. The Oaken Throne
  4. Moonrise
  5. The Archer
  6. The Wild Swans
  7. In the Morning Mist
  8. Über den Sternen
  • Schwadorf
  • Thomas Helm




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