BETHLEHEM
“MEIN WEG”
(Read Stream)

Bethlehem exists from 1991 and “Mein Weg” is the new full-length album of the band. Unfortunately I haven’t heard anything of the band in the past (from what I’ve read their past seems to be in black metal forms) so, I cannot make comparisons between their past releases and the new one. But I can truly tell you that “Mein Weg” has taken me by surprise! I didn’t know what I was going to hear when I took the CD in my hands and by looking at the artwork, I thought that this was another fast black metal album and nothing more. I was totally wrong… and I’m really happy about that!

Bethlehem has the ability to combine many music styles such as metal, gothic, atmospheric, black metal, rock, dark wave and to create interesting music with their personal touch! Some bands that crossed my mind while listening to this album were: Green Carnation, Rammstein, Opeth and Autumnblaze. It’s really hard for me to find the appropriate words to describe this album because it has a unique Bethlehem touch in the end. I’m hardly surprised from a band that I listened to, for the first time and Bethlehem made me listened to this album far too many times. If you looking for a release that can combine: power, heavy riffs, melancholic melodies, atmospheric parts, piano tunes and mellow elements then I cannot think of a better album than “Mein Weg”, that was released so far this year.

My only objection is that the lyrics are in German language and that can hold the band back from becoming even more popular. If the lyrics were in English then, I believe, things would have been better for the band. But to tell you the truth the songs are so well orchestrated and so good that the language thing won’t mind you a lot in the very end. The production of the album is clear and heavy and it will satisfy any atmospheric goth metal fan out there.

Highlights of the album are without any doubt: “Aalmutter”, “Allegoria”, “Knockenkorn”, Frl. Deutsch”, “Febel Fittich”, “Elf Soffitten”, “Einsargen”, and the “weird” “Maschinensatan” (which lasts about 26 minutes and has  a break in the middle which lasts about 11 minutes and we listen to a terrific cover of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”... musically close to the prototype).

I do not have many things to tell about “Meig Weg”... if you love weird atmospheric goth metal music and you do not have this album then it’s a miss. If you also do not know Bethlehem (as I used to do) then it’s a crime! Buy and enjoy!

 by Thanos Aggelakis 8,5/10