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
Ordinary Darkness
Blutengel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the light at the end of the night.
Her the voices inside, the devil prays for your soul.
Close your eyes, watch the sky.
Your star slowly fades.
Echoes losing their sound
Shadows catching your soul
It's too late to go back
It's too late to regret
Your light will die.
You don't have to suffer.
Don't be afraid.
It's the end of Eden.
Don't hesitate.
Keep the memories of your dreams.
Nothing is like what it seems.
It's your darkest night.
There's a hand in the dark
Which can heal all the pain inside your heart.
It's your own ordinary darkness,
Your own little world of pain
And you can never ever escape from it.
It's a place full of endless coldness,
Your own little world of fear
Where no one can ever, ever hurt you.
Close your eyes,
Feel the death at the end of the day.
Say good bye to your dreams.
The devil's waiting for you.
Close your eyes,
Say good-bye - your soul is dying now.
"Ordinary Darkness" by Blutengel is a haunting and melancholic song that explores the emotions that arise from feeling trapped in one's own pain and anguish. The song suggests that, even though we might feel alone in our suffering, we are not truly alone. The lyrics urge the listener to close their eyes and see the light at the end of the night, and to let go of their fear and regret.
The song opens up with the image of closing one's eyes and seeing the light at the end of the night. This metaphor suggests that even in the darkest of moments, there is always a glimmer of hope to be found. However, the second line of the verse suggests that this hope is not always easy to find. The voices inside represent the negative thoughts and feelings that can take hold of us when we are feeling lost and alone. The devil's prayer for our soul speaks of the fear that we are being pulled towards something dark and menacing.
The chorus brings together the overarching theme of the song, which is that we are all dealing with our own ordinary darkness. This is our own little world of pain and fear and even though we might feel trapped and alone, we are not truly alone. The song suggests that there is always a hand in the darkness that can heal the pain inside our heart if we let go of our fear and embrace the love that surrounds us.
Overall, "Ordinary Darkness" is a powerful and emotional song that encourages us to reach out and connect with those around us who might be going through similar struggles. It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Close your eyes
Take a moment to reflect inwardly and shut out the outside world.
See the light at the end of the night.
Visualize the hope of a better future, despite the darkness of the present.
Her the voices inside, the devil prays for your soul.
Be aware of the negative thoughts and influences that can lead you astray from the right path.
Close your eyes, watch the sky.
Meditate on the beauty of nature and its ability to provide a sense of peace and tranquility.
Your star slowly fades.
The potential for greatness within you is diminishing over time.
Echoes losing their sound
The past is becoming more distant and indistinct with each passing moment.
Shadows catching your soul
Negative influences are taking hold of your spirit and dragging you down.
There is no time to hide your tears.
Now is not the time to suppress or ignore your emotions, but rather to confront them head on.
It's too late to go back
Past mistakes cannot be undone or forgotten, only learned from and moved forward from.
It's too late to regret
Focusing on past regrets is futile, as they cannot be altered and only serve to increase one's suffering.
Your light will die.
The spark of hope within you is flickering and in danger of being extinguished.
You don't have to suffer.
There is no need to endure unnecessary pain or hardship.
Don't be afraid.
Fear is a paralyzing force that can prevent one from finding peace and happiness.
It's the end of Eden.
The era of perfect bliss and innocence is over, and a new, harsher world has emerged.
Don't hesitate.
Take action and seize control of your life, even in the face of adversity.
Keep the memories of your dreams.
Hold on to the positive aspirations and goals you have for the future, even in difficult times.
Nothing is like what it seems.
Appearances can be deceiving, and the true nature of people and situations may be different from what they initially appear.
It's your darkest night.
This is a period of great struggle and suffering.
There's a hand in the dark
Help and support are available, even in the bleakest of times.
Which can heal all the pain inside your heart.
The love and compassion of others can provide comfort and healing to those who are suffering emotionally.
It's your own ordinary darkness,
The feelings of pain, loneliness, and despair are a common and normal experience for many people.
Your own little world of pain
The suffering that one experiences is unique to them, but it is not something that they must endure alone.
And you can never ever escape from it.
The pain and sorrow of life are ever present, but approaching them with courage and a positive mindset can help to lessen their impact.
It's a place full of endless coldness,
The world can be a harsh and unforgiving place, where people are often left to fend for themselves.
Your own little world of fear
Anxiety and fear can control and consume a person, but they are manageable if faced directly.
Where no one can ever, ever hurt you.
By confronting one's fears and emotions, one can build resilience and learn to protect oneself from future pain and suffering.
Say good bye to your dreams.
The future that one envisioned for themselves may no longer be possible or realistic.
The devil's waiting for you.
Negative influences and temptations are abundant and waiting to lead one astray.
Say good-bye - your soul is dying now.
Continuing on a path of negativity and despair will only lead to a slow death of the spirit.
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve
on In alle Ewigkeit
The reason i listen to Blutengel is to hear Ulricke.