Year: 2021
Total Time: 49.39
Label: AFM Records
The exact style that LETZTE INSTANZ is playing, is hard to answer. Others have called them Violin Rock, others Medieval Rock, Crossover, Folk Metal but all of this, always with their presence on the Neue Deutche Harte scene. In the German-speaking public, as in Germany and Austria, they have gained a huge reputation that goes beyond the Underground Dark Wave scene and relies on Commercial, claiming the title of the biggest band of the genre, together with MONO INC, SALTATIO MORTIS, JOACHIM WITT. Here we have the band’s 14th album (counting since 1998) “Ehrenwort” (“Words of Honor” in English).
Unfortunately, in the final mix, the violin and the cello are louder that the electric guitars. The electronic elements are not so many, and only a few synths are interesting. Also the vocals are tolerable in terms of their harshness. The band also follows the same recipe in all their songs (13 in total), making it difficult to find the best ones. Something I do not like at all is that they have several songs in ballad style. If I was to single out some songs, those would be “Du Bist Nicht Verloren”, “Entzundet Der Feuer” and the self-titled “Ehrenwort” that opens the album and By the way, those are three of their most dynamic songs.
Having the very big label AFM behind them, they will continue to be successful and many of their songs will have a strong presence in the official German and Austrian charts. And their fans in these two countries will continue to adore them. But, referring to a fan of the (extreme) Metal scene and also to those who listen to Gothic or belong in the wider Dark scene, I don’t think that they will find something special here…
Rating: 4/10
Editor: Dimitris Argyrakis
Related Link: LETZTE INSTANZ – Facebook Page
