Ellende - Todbringerin (2024)

Today we have a very pleasant surprise from Austria’s Ellende, a re-recorded and reinterpreted version of their amazing second release “Todbringer”. With “Todbringerin”, the band takes control of the music behind this release by re-recording it (no studio masters from the original exist) and making it available in all formats for listeners. We are huge fans of the original, and have a physical copy of that release as one of our treasured items on our collection, so we were psyched to hear how the band, eight years after, would take on such an excellent release.

After the atmospheric mood setting intro, we have our favorite track of the release, “Ballade auf den Tod”, which is definitely well adapted and sounds very much like the original version but includes additional polished elements and a more dynamic production. This seems to continue into other excellent pieces like “Verehrung” and the now to parts of “Scherben”, which we liked as one full go as in the original version, but has a nicer kick in two parts for this release. The atmospheric elements seem more crisp and elegant in this release, so it is also a plus.

Closing with the very emotional “Am Ende stirbst du allein”, this reinterpretation has an equally vicious nature as the original, but again the polish and refinement acquired over the years by Lukas Gosch makes it sound superior. Overall, “Todbringerin” is a very good and solid re-recording of the original, we like the polish as it sounds more like ‘newer’ Ellende, but also appreciate “Todbringer” for what it was at the moment. If fans haven't been able to grab a copy of the original, this is certainly a piece to add to your collection and to discover it with all the extras will make you like the band even more.

Label: AOP Records

Release: August 30th, 2024

Genre: Atmospheric/Ambient Black Metal/Post-Black Metal

Country: Austria