Founded in 1996, the band has progressed in style from black metal on their first album, Nicht um zu sterben, to what the band describes as “a vision beyond (black) metal, neofolk and ambient” on their latest works. The music on their second album, Bitter ist's dem Tod zu dienen, released in 1997, can be described as symphonic black metal with some folk and some gothic influences. With their most modern-sounding 2001 album Her von welken Nächten they reached a point where deep sentiment and contemplation of life and death induces a very own style of music that was critically acclaimed by all metal magazines. After that album, drummer Moritz Neuner (also in Leaves' Eyes, Darkwell, Atrocity) left the band due to some differences with the two remaining members. Shortly after, an upcoming album with the name Hexenwind was announced, with which the band would return to a more pure black metal style. However, during the track-writing period the band’s progression took a new direction towards a more calm and mature approach, and Hexenwind was not released until 2005.
In 2006, Valñes left Dornenreich to start a new project called Eyas and Evíga found a new Dornenreich member in 2006 as Inve, who had already contributed as a violinist on Her von welken Nächten. By the end of the same year, the fifth album Durch den Traum was released, and the band used a session drummer after Moritz left. Their last release, In Luft geritzt (Carved in air), released in 2008, shows a complete departure from previous styles, where Dornenreich has chosen to play completly unplugged, with only acoustic guitars and violin as instruments and bells as percussion.
Notably absent from their poetry and interviews are allusions to controversial spiritual and ideological issues common with many other bands of similar musical genres.
Current line-up:
Evíga (Jochen Stock) - vocals, guitar, bass
Inve (Thomas Riesner) - violin
Former members:
Valñes / Dunkelkind (Thomas Stock) - keyboards, vocals
Dragomir / Gilván (Moritz Neuner) - drums
Discography:
Mein FlügelSchlag (demotape), 1997
Nicht um zu sterben, 1997
Bitter ist's dem Tod zu dienen, 1999
Her von welken Nächten, 2001
Hexenwind, 2005
Durch den Traum, 2006
In Luft geritzt, 2008
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Dornenreich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
... Immer näher an mich heran... umfangen mich... und schwingen mich empor...
... Als Nebel... sinke ich... auf abendlichen Wald...
... Elfen glitzern eilends ums Gezweig... Feen huschen schimmernd durchs Gestrüpp...
... Erde schält Blume... und wogt mit Wind zur Blüte... und wird Flamme...
... Ein Funkenmeer schweift gen Mond...
... Tropfen träumen Teich... Teich träumt Sturm...
... Alles Sehnen ewig Eins...
... Feuer... Erde... Wasser... Luft...
... Der Traum webt alles neu...
... Vogel breitet seine Schwingen... Luft trinkt seinen Flug... gen Sonne...
... Erde bettet Asche neu...
... Alles Sehnen ewig Eins...
... Zürnend' Blitze peitschen... Nebel droh'n...
... Furcht starrt Mensch... Donner Hohn...
... Alle Dämme bersten... Kreis ist Kron'...
... Angst... Ahnung... "Alles Eins"...
... Kreis ist Kron'...
The lyrics to Dornenreich's song III speak about the power of nature and how it can inspire both fear and wonder in humans. The singer describes the magic melodies that wind their way into their abyss, drawing them closer until they are surrounded and lifted up. They sink like mist into an evening forest, where they see elves and fairies flitting among the branches. The clearing is kissed by the night and the earth blooms and becomes flame, a spark of fire that will blaze their way to the moon. Drops dream of the pond, while the pond dreams of the storm, and everything longs for the eternal unity of the universe.
The dream weaves everything anew, as the bird spreads its wings and flies towards the sun on the air's embrace. The earth cradles the ashes once more and everything longs for the eternal unity of the universe. But even as nature inspires awe and reverence, it also inspires fear - the lightning strikes, the fog threatens, and fear paralyzes humans as they confront the mocking thunder. Yet, despite all of this, there is a sense that everything is one and that there is a circular nature to the world, with the circle as the crown.
Line by Line Meaning
... Zaubermelodien schlängeln sich in meinen Abgrund...
The enchanting melodies wind their way into my abyss...
... Immer näher an mich heran... umfangen mich... und schwingen mich empor...
Closer and closer they come to me... they envelop me... and lift me up...
... Als Nebel... sinke ich... auf abendlichen Wald...
...like mist... I sink... into the evening forest...
... Elfen glitzern eilends ums Gezweig... Feen huschen schimmernd durchs Gestrüpp...
...elves glitter swiftly around the branches... fairies hurriedly flit through the bushes...
... Nachtgeküsste Lichtung...
...a clearing, kissed by night...
... Erde schält Blume... und wogt mit Wind zur Blüte... und wird Flamme...
...the earth peels off the flower... and sways with the wind to bloom... and becomes flame...
... Ein Funkenmeer schweift gen Mond...
...a sea of sparks drifts towards the moon...
... Tropfen träumen Teich... Teich träumt Sturm...
...drops dream of the pond... the pond dreams of the storm...
... Alles Sehnen ewig Eins...
...all longing is forever one...
... Feuer... Erde... Wasser... Luft...
...fire... earth... water... air...
... Der Traum webt alles neu...
...the dream weaves everything anew...
... Vogel breitet seine Schwingen... Luft trinkt seinen Flug... gen Sonne...
...the bird spreads its wings... the air drinks in its flight... towards the sun...
... Erde bettet Asche neu...
...the earth cradles the ashes anew...
... Alle Dämme bersten... Kreis ist Kron'...
...all dams burst... circle is crown...
... Zürnend' Blitze peitschen... Nebel droh'n...
...angry lightning lashes... mist threatens...
... Furcht starrt Mensch... Donner Hohn...
...fear paralyzes man... scorn of thunder...
... Angst... Ahnung... "Alles Eins"...
...fear... presentiment... "all is one"...
... Kreis ist Kron'...
...circle is crown...
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@5Muco5
Sooo Geil!