Empyrium is a German symphonic folk/

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

and (later)

neofolk Neofolk, also known as apocalyptic folk, is a form of experimental music blending elements of folk and industrial music, which emerged in punk rock circles in the 1980s. Neofolk may either be solely acoustic or combine acoustic folk instrumenta ...

dark folk Neofolk, also known as apocalyptic folk, is a form of experimental music blending elements of folk and industrial music, which emerged in punk rock circles in the 1980s. Neofolk may either be solely acoustic or combine acoustic folk instrumenta ...

band.

History

Empyrium was founded in 1994 by Markus Stock (mostly using the pseudonym

Ulf Theodor Schwadorf Ulf, or Ulv is a masculine name common in Scandinavia and Germany. It derives from the Old Norse word for " wolf" (''úlfr'', see Wulf). The oldest written record of the name's occurrence in Sweden is from a runestone of the 11th century. The ...

) and Andreas Bach, but later many other musicians participated. The band draws inspiration from nature. Empyrium are often referred to as a

or apocalyptic folk band, expressing in their music sentiments akin to those expressed by some other 'legislators' of the genre, Forseti,

Orplid Orplid is a neofolk, Martial industrial, martial, post-industrial music, post-industrial and experimental music group of German musicians, Uwe Nolte and Frank Machau. The name is drawn from the poem Gesang Weylas by Eduard Mörike, beginning ‘Du ...

, and

Ulver Ulver (Norwegian for "wolves") is a Norwegian experimental electronica band founded in 1993, by vocalist Kristoffer Rygg. Their early works, such as debut album '' Bergtatt'', were categorised as folklore-influenced black metal, but the band h ...

(

Kveldssanger ''Kveldssanger'' (translated as ''"Twilight Songs"'') is the second studio album by Norwegian band Ulver, issued in March 1996 via Head Not Found. The album was recorded at Endless Lydstudio, Oslo, Norway in the summer and autumn of 1995, with Kri ...

). Like the Norwegian black metal band

Burzum Burzum (; ) was a Norwegian music project founded by Varg Vikernes in 1991. Although Burzum never played live performances, it became a part of the early Norwegian black metal scene and is considered one of the most influential acts in black m ...

, Empyrium also used a Theodor Kittelsen drawing on one of their album covers (''

Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays ''Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays'' (1999) is the third album by the German symphonic folk/doom metal band Empyrium. Track listing * The song "When Shadows Grow Longer" is a new version of the same song from the 1997 Songs of Moors and Mis ...

'').

Metal records

Their 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

(or folk metal) with folk and

symphonic A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning com ...

influences. They combine harsh and operatic male vocals, with deep slow guitar parts and atmospheric sounds.

Acoustic records

The following two albums, ''

'' and '' Weiland'' are acoustic, display a constantly heavier

influence. Instead of keyboards, the band switched to acoustic instruments such as

acoustic guitar An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...

s, violins, cellos and the

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

. 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 heavy metal.

Departure

After their 2002 album, ''Weiland'', the band decided to stop recording. As Schwadorf himself put it,

''Empyrium has explored nature-mystics since 1994, and after 8 years we feel to move on and made a glorious farewell to the concept with "Weiland"''

''A Retrospective''

In August 2006, Empyrium's label,

Prophecy Productions Prophecy Productions is an international record label, founded in Germany by Martin Koller in 1996. It proclaims promoting "transcendental ..captivating music".

, 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

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.

Comeback

On September 17, 2010,

Prophecy Productions Prophecy Productions is an international record label, founded in Germany by Martin Koller in 1996. It proclaims promoting "transcendental ..captivating music".

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 ''Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings'' is a compilation album by various neofolk and metal artists. It was released through Prophecy Productions on October 29, 2010. Artists featured on the compilation album include Ulver, Nest, Syven, Les Disc ...

''.

We are incredibly happy to announce that Empyrium, the most renowned Prophecy act ever, has decided to reunite and to record new music! Here's the official statement of Schwadorf on the reunion: ''Since the rumours start to spread we think it's about time to make this official: Empyrium is alive again! Our first new sign of life will be the song 'The Days Before The Fall' on the Prophecy Prod. compilation 'Whom The Moon A Nightsong Sings' but we have plans for more! The spirit is back and it really feels right to us to start writing songs with Empyrium again. We are not in a rush though so don't expect a full length today or tomorrow but we have the patience and faith to make this new songs outstanding and unique. Just as Empyrium ever was...''

Discography

Demos * ''...Der wie ein Blitz vom Himmel fiel...'' (1995) Studio albums * '' A Wintersunset...'' (1996) * ''

Songs of Moors and Misty Fields ''Songs of Moors and Misty Fields'' (1997) is the second album by the German band Empyrium. Elaborating on their previous full-length album, '' A Wintersunset...'' released a year before, with ''Songs of Moors...'' Empyrium delve into a more sop ...

'' (1997) * ''

'' (1999) * '' Weiland'' (2002) * ''The Turn of the Tides'' (2014) * ''Über den Sternen'' (2021) EPs * ''Drei Auszüge aus Weiland'' (2002) * ''Dead Winter Ways'' (2013) * ''The Mill'' (2015) Compilation albums * ''A Retrospective...'' (2006) * ''A Retrospective...'' (boxed set, 2006) * ''

Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings ''Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings'' is a compilation album by various neofolk and metal artists. It was released through Prophecy Productions on October 29, 2010. Artists featured on the compilation album include Ulver, Nest, Syven, Les Disc ...

'' (as a contributing artist to the compilation, 2010) * ''1994 - 2014'' (boxed set, 2014) Live albums * ''Into the Pantheon'' (2013) * ''Bochum , Christuskirche , 2012'' (2013)

Line-up

* Ulf Theodor Schwadorf (g, b, dr&p, v, etc.); Andreas Bach (k) * Ulf Theodor Schwadorf (g, b, dr&p, v, etc.); Andreas Bach (k); Nadine Moelter (flute) * Ulf Theodor Schwadorf (g, b, dr&p, v, etc.); Andreas Bach (k); Nadine Moelter (flute); Thomas Helm (bv) * Ulf Theodor Schwadorf (g, b, dr&p, v, etc.); Thomas Helm (bv); guests (''Weiland'')

References

External links

* * *
interview with Markus Stock 2007
{{Authority control German folk metal musical groups German black metal musical groups German doom metal musical groups Neofolk music groups Musical groups established in 1994 Musical groups disestablished in 2006 Musical groups reestablished in 2010 1994 establishments in Germany 2006 disestablishments in Germany 2010 establishments in Germany