Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Nebelung - Palingenesis [Temple of Torturous - 2014]

It’s a monumental feat to try and create sounds that personify the themes of decay, rebirth and transformation; more so to do it without any lyrical accompaniment.  Germanys Nebelung has successfully intertwined these ideals with their latest release Palingenesis.  The musicians involved Stefan Otto, Thomas List and Katharina Hoffmann have constructed wordless, soulful and strikingly gentle songs that evoke a emotions and regeneration of the human spirit.

Each instrumental evokes the beautiful stillness of quiet reflection.  Guitars, cello, dulcimer, glass harp, harmonium, accordion and whispered vocals are layered into gorgeous pieces of music reflecting the silent passages of one transformation to the next.  “Polaris” with its minimal sounds echoing a quiet spirituality, “Nachtgewalt” lulls one into a melancholy mood, the feeling of walking through the woods on a chilly evening.  “Mitwinter” invokes the stillness of winter; a repetitious guitar melody is pensive but hopeful; much like “Aufgang” where a mournful cello adds depth to the angelic sounding guitars. “Innerlichkeit” is a soaring combination of instruments that create a sentiment of introspection. “Wandlung” starts with soft drone (maybe a field recording?) that evolves into (once again) the most stunning acoustic guitar harmony. Throughout Palingenesis the lack of vocals is never really an issue, in fact even after to listening to the whole album you’d be hard pressed to think of any lyric that would do justice to the music.  Nebelung have been able to convey every thought and emotion through sound.

The one point that keeps returning in each and every song is how very natural the instruments, the compositions and the atmospheres feel.  Nebelung have created a spiritually organic piece of art that is so achingly exquisite.  Palingenesis is unquestionably the perfect name for their work.  Drenched in soul bearing starkness and haunting emotion, they have taken on a journey through birth, life, death and transfiguration. 

Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5

Viktorya Kaufholz
Latest Reviews

Nebelung - Palingenesis
It’s a monumental feat to try and create sounds that personify the themes of decay, rebirth and transformation; more so to do it without any lyrical accomp...
120925   Through And Through. - Throug...
120925   Ride A Wild Stud - Ride A Wi...
120925   Osvaldo Coluccino - Rispecch...
120925   Didier Rotella - Zone Grise
110925   Tim Lucas - Succubus(Book)
110925   Perpetrator - Perpetrator( Bl...
100925   Out Of The Clouds - Out Of Th...
100925   Phenomenal World - Same
100925   Arboreal/Whore’s Breath - S...
090925   Christopher Colm Morrin - Ske...
Latest Articles

Third Window Films - A Label For ...
Formed in 2005, London-based Third Window Films has been one of the key film labels releasing Asian cinema in the West. Their catalogue touches down in a lot...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
090525   Ennaytch - Of walls, abused ...
150425   Dead, Dead Swans interview - ...
110325   Sebastian Tomb - Walls of unb...
040225   Alien Sex Fiend - Possessed B...
231224   Best Of 2024 - Music, Sound &...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom