Blutengel was formed in 1998 after Chris Pohl had decided to give up the preceding project, Seelenkrank (which had released two albums), due to contractual problems. Just as its predecessor, Blutengel uses melodious electronic tunes in combination with both male and female voices. The lyrics are primarily in German or English and mixed between male and female vocals paired with electronic sounds and with songs often focusing on all aspects of love, from the tragedy of hopeless romance of vampires (all the way to the more animal aspects of desire) and aspects of death and the afterlife.
The first album Child of Glass was released in early 1999 with Kati Roloff and Nina Bendigkeit as the original female vocalists.
In 2001, the second album Seelenschmerz was released. Nina left to concentrate on photography and eventually form the band Formalin. Gini Martin joined the band as the second female voice alongside Kati. The first Blutengel gig ever took place at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen on June 1, 2001, in Leipzig, in front of 10,000 fans. At the end of 2001, the single Black Roses was released with Constance Rudert as a session singer. The band performed at the Dark Storm Festival where Constance appeared on stage with Kati and Gini. This was the last time the band would play with its original line-up. Kati and Gini left the band days later for personal reasons and founded their own project together, Tristesse de la Lune. Constance, who had originally only been recruited for the single "Black Roses", became a full time member of Blutengel. Eva Pölzing joined soon after as a second vocalist.
Angel Dust was released in 2002, placing 58th on the German Charts.The Angel Dust promotional photo-shoot and booklet was made by Nina Bendigkeit.
In 2004 their fourth album, Demon Kiss, was released, featuring the single "Forever". A DVD release Live Lines and the album-length EP The Oxidising Angel appeared in 2005, the latter of which contained new material as well as a cover of "Cry Little Sister" from The Lost Boys soundtrack. In early October Eva Pölzing decided to leave the band due to other projects. Eva was replaced by Ulrike Goldmann (ex-Say-Y).
For the following two years, the band released a couple of singles with a slightly more "pop-driven" sound until their fifth album, Labyrinth was released in September 2007. It reached 36th in the German charts, and featured the single "Lucifer", and the live favourite "Engelsblut".
In 2009 Blutengel released the album Schwarzes Eis, which featured the single "Dancing in the Light" and accompanying music video to promote the album. An extended edition of this album contained three full CDs, each with its own subtitle (Schwarzes Eis, the instrumental Behind the Mirror and Redemption). The EP Soultaker was released later that year.
In 2010, they performed at the Amphi Festival featuring Anja Milow, Maria Rehfeld and Jenny Haufe who had been hired in 2009 as a dancers for the Schwarzes Eis Tour. Days later, it was announced on the official website that Constance had been replaced by two new singers, Anja Milow and Steffi Weingarten. Both featured on the seventh album Tränenherz, released in 2011 and placed in the German charts at number 12. Two singles "Über den Horizont" & "Reich Mir Die Hand" were released to promote the album, with accompanying music videos the latter featuring Pohl's new girlfriend Viki Scarlet as the "Bloody Girl" in Reich Mir Die Hand who would later become a permanent dancer.
The EP Nachtbringer followed that same year. a music video was released for the title track featuring the complete lineup excluding Jenny for this video. Steffi was fired from the band before they began touring and on her official Facebook page, she wrote a statement claiming that she was not allowed to tour due to legal issues with Constance. Jenny left in 2012, followed by Anja to focus on her job as a model for the clothing label AMF Korsets, continue college studies and work as an independent designer with her label Madone Noire.
Monument and Black Symphonies (2012–2014) Edit
From May 12 to May 20, 2012 Blutengel toured North America for the first time. Playing in Mexico City, New York, San Antonio, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and in Montreal for the Kinetik Festival. After the tour Maria Rehfeld left the band.[citation needed]
The first single from the album Monument, "Save Our Souls", was released in November 2012 while the second single, "You Walk Away", was released in January 2013. The album Monument was released in February 2013 and placed #4 & #96 on the German and Switzerland music charts respectively. "Kinder dieser Stadt" was released on July 19, 2013, as the third single from Monument.
Blutengel released an orchestral compilation album, Black Symphonies (An Orchestral Journey), on February 28, 2014. A single and music video for "Krieger" were released to promote the album.
Omen & Nemesis: The Best of & Reworked (2014–2016)
The first single "Asche Zu Asche", from their upcoming album was released on November 14, 2014. The second single, "Sing", was released on January 23, 2015.
Omen was released on February 12, 2015.
The band then embarked on the first leg of the Omen tour in April and spanning through to August. Festival appearances include Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Mera Luna Festival, and Summer Breeze Open Air.
A new EP, In Alle Ewigkeit, was announced via the band's website in early August as well as the tour dates for the second leg of the Omen tour, which began in November and ended in early December. The new EP was released 23 October 2015, and featured a reworking of 'Weg Zu Mir' originally from 'Child of Glass' which served as a preview for the upcoming 'Best of' album.
Chris Pohl recorded guest vocals on Italian industrial group Helalyn Flowers' "Beware of Light" single which was released by Belgian label Alfa Matrix Records in October 2015.
On 26 February 2016, their 'best of' album Nemesis: The Best of & Reworked was released with re-recorded versions of BlutEngel classics. To support this release, they will be playing 'Nemesis - Open Air Festival' in July.
Due to legal issues, Omen was re-released under the title Save Us.
Leitbild & Un:Gott (2016–present) Edit
In early 2016, BlutEngel entered the studio to record a new album, set for a release in February 2017.
"Complete", the first single from the upcoming 10th album, Leitbild, was released on December 2, 2016. it featured two B-sides and a remix by British darkwave act Massive Ego. The second single "Lebe Deinen Traum" was released as a digital single on February 3, 2017.
Leitbild was released on 17 February. The album would be the band's third straight album to chart in the top 5 of the Media Control Charts at number 4. The album would also chart Swiss Music Charts at #49. BlutEngel went on Tour starting in April and ended in May to promote Leitbild, with Massive Ego as their support. On 12 May, they performed an acoustic set which was recorded for release on DVD as, A Special Night Out: Live & Acoustic in Berlin.
After the Leitbild tour ended, Chris teased that he began work on a new Mini Album or EP to be released towards the end of the year. The new Mini Album was later confirmed and entitled Black. The 2nd leg of the Leitbild tour was also announced for October through December, 2017. Live im Wasserschloss Klaffenbach will be released April 2018, with footage from their 'Nemesis - Open Air Festival' from July 2016.
In May, 2018 BlutEngel were back in the studio working on their next album, Un:Gott, which was released 15th February 2019 and was promoted with a tour, that began in February. The tour was once again supported by Massive Ego.
A new Mini Album "Damokles" was released on November 1st, 2019.
During the COVID-19 pandemic three singles were released. The first Wir Sind Unsterblich on 27th March. The second, Obscured, a collaboration with Hocico on 3rd April. The third, Nothing But A Void, a collaboration with Massive Ego was released Friday 13th of November.
Line-up
Current members
Chris Pohl – vocals, lyrics, programming (1998–present)
Ulrike Goldmann – vocals and lyrics (2005–present)
Current dancers
Viki Scarlet – Main Visual Concept (2011–present)
Former members
1998–2000: Nina Bendigkeit (now in Formalin;also female voices on Seelenkrank and Terminal Choice albums) – Vocals and lyrics
1998–2002: Kati Roloff (was in Tristesse de la Lune with Gini but left in late 2006) – Vocals
2000–2002: Gini Martin (now in Tristesse de la Lune) – Vocals and Lyrics
2002–2005: Eva Pölzing – Vocals
2002–2010: Constance Rudert (now in Cinderella Effect)– session singer then Vocals and Visual Concept
2010–2011: Steffi Weingarten – Vocals
2009–2012: Anja Milow – Vocals and Visual Concept
Former dancers
2001–2009: Sonja Semmler (now in Masters of Comedy – Live performance, visual concept (their first official dancer/performance artist to be part of the band)
2009-2012: Jenny Haufe- Visual Concept
2009-2012: Maria Rehfeld- Visual Concept
Albums Edit
1999: Child of Glass
2001: Seelenschmerz
2002: Angel Dust
2004: Demon Kiss
2007: Labyrinth
2009: Schwarzes Eis
2011: Tränenherz
2013: Monument
2015: Omen/Save Us
2017: Leitbild
2019: Un:Gött
I AM
Blutengel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Diamond tears up on my hands - up on, up on my hands
I've lost my heart, I've lost my soul - my heart, my heart, my soul
Frozen feelings without you - without you
I hear a voice
|: I am the water when you die
I am the sky when you rise
I am eternity when you die:|
Touch my skin, I feel your breath - I feel, I feel your breath
Take my hand, don't let me go - don't let, don't let me go
I've missed your smile, I've missed your voice - Your smile, I've missed your voice
Now you're closer than before - than before
You are my light
(Chorous)
Will I, will I, will I die? (Repeat 3x)
(Chorous 1x)
The lyrics to Blutengel's song "I Am" describe someone who is struggling with intense emotions and feelings of loss after a loved one has left them. The first verse describes the turmoil inside the singer's mind, with waterfalls representing the overwhelming emotions they are experiencing. They also mention diamond tears on their hands, suggesting that they have been crying and feeling the pain of their lost love. The repeated line "without you" emphasizes the singer's sense of emptiness and longing.
In the second verse, the singer reaches out to their lost love, feeling their presence through memories and sensations like feeling their breath and holding their hand. They express how much they have missed them and how their closeness now feels more real than before.
The chorus is sung by a mysterious voice that claims to be a part of everything the singer experiences. They describe themselves as the water when the singer dies, the sky when they rise, the wind when they fly, and eternity when they die. This voice could be interpreted as an embodiment of the singer's lost love or as a spiritual force trying to console them.
Finally, the repeated question at the end, "Will I die?" shows the singer's desperation and fear of being alone without their loved one.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Am" capture the pain and longing that comes with losing someone you love deeply. The images of waterfalls and diamond tears convey the intensity of the singer's emotions, while the mysterious voice in the chorus offers a sense of comfort and connection to something larger than themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Waterfalls inside my head - inside, inside my head
My mind is overwhelmed with emotions, and I can feel them like a waterfall pouring inside my head.
Diamond tears up on my hands - up on, up on my hands
I am shedding precious tears that reflect my innermost emotions, and I can feel them on my hands.
I've lost my heart, I've lost my soul - my heart, my heart, my soul
I have experienced a profound loss in my life, and I feel like a part of me has died along with it - my heart and soul.
Frozen feelings without you - without you
My emotions seem to be frozen or numbed, and I cannot feel anything without the person I long for in my life.
I hear a voice
|: I am the water when you die
I am the sky when you rise
I am the wind when you fly
I am eternity when you die:|
The voice I hear seems to personify eternal power and omnipresence, claiming to be present in every moment of my life - as the water, sky, wind, and even eternity.
Touch my skin, I feel your breath - I feel, I feel your breath
Whenever I am touched, I sense the presence of the person I miss, feeling their breath as though they were still beside me.
Take my hand, don't let me go - don't let, don't let me go
I am filled with desperate longing and a fear of losing the person I need, someone to hold my hand and never let me go.
I've missed your smile, I've missed your voice - Your smile, I've missed your voice
I am expressing deep longing for the person, and missing every aspect of their presence in my life - from the sound of their voice to the warmth of their smile.
Now you're closer than before - than before
Finally, I feel that the person I miss is closer than ever before, making my heart race and my spirit soar.
You are my light
(Chorous)
The person I long for represents a beacon of light in my life, and their presence gives me the strength to carry on.
Will I, will I, will I die? (Repeat 3x)
This line is an expression of deep despair, wondering if the pain and emptiness will ever end, and whether life is worth living without the person I long for.
(Chorous 1x)
The chorus repeats that the person I long for is my light in the darkness, and they give me hope and the determination to keep living.
Writer(s): Christian Chris Pohl Copyright: Ed. Out Of Line
Contributed by Ava N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve
on In alle Ewigkeit
The reason i listen to Blutengel is to hear Ulricke.