Dreadful Shadows
Encyclopedia
Dreadful Shadows is a German Gothic metal
band, formed in 1993 in Berlin. Initially part of the Gothic rock
and Dark Wave movement, the band had developed considerably by the time of the release of their debut album, incorporating metal elements and modern electronics, causing the band to be considered part of the Gothic metal
genre. Dreadful Shadows disbanded in 2000 to work on separate projects.
, Nosferatu and The Eternal Afflict, among others), making a name for themselves in the Netherlands, England and Denmark.
There followed in 1994 and 1995 some sampler contributions, further concerts and a festival (with Christian Death
, Armageddon Dildos
and The Eternal Afflict at the Zillo festival in December 1994) helping to increase Dreadful Shadows' popularity in Germany. In February 1995, the band went back into the studio to record the Homeless EP, which appeared in June 1995. The cover version of the New Order
classic True Faith established itself in some clubs as dance hit. Subsequently, the band appeared with Cyan Kills E.Coli, at the Mise Noire festival in Madrid, along with bands Mephisto Walz
and Girls Under Glass
.
. In March 1996, work began on the second LP Buried Again. During the process, the two guitarists Stefan Neubauer and Franc Hofer left Dreadful Shadows due to internal conflicts. Sven Friedrich and Tom Tony took over the guitar parts. In July 1996 André Feller left and a temporary guitarist in Sebastian Oliver Lange (In Extremo
) was found. The latter was replaced on a long-term basis by Norman Selbig. The new line-up made an appearance at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen, followed by the album Buried Again and a tour of Germany and Europe (including an appearance at the Sacrosanct festival in London with bands such as Rosetta Stone
and Vendemmian in August 1996).
In 1997, Dreadful Shadows moved to the record company Oblivion
, releasing the single Burning the Shrouds. Following a support tour with fellow Gothic metal
band Paradise Lost
, the band's third studio album, Beyond The Maze, was released in February 1998. The promo tour took the band to Beirut/Lebanon. The release of the Tanita Tikaram
cover Twist in My Sobriety
concluded a successful year. Their qualities as live band were proved in 1999 when the Dreadful Shadows embarked on an extensive European tour.
Dreadful Shadows' last studio album, The Cycle, was released in September 1999. The band embarked on their final tour of Germany in the year 2000. Sven Friedrich and Norman Selbig formed Zeraphine
shortly after the split. André and Ron formed 'Coma 51', whilst Jens formed his own label Andromeda Records and also the band 'Thanateros'.
Also, in 2001, "Beyond The Maze" and "The Cycle" were repackaged and sold as one double CD by the label Oblivion, but they were not remastered.
In related news, Sven Friedrich, the singer of Zeraphine and the Dreadful Shadows, launched his solo project Solar Fake. Solar Fake is a pure electro project and brings what Friedrich describes as pulsating sequencers, driving beats and sometimes wild and aggressive vocals with intensive melodies and melancholic moments. A debut album is planned to be released in February 2008 via Synthetic Symphony/SPV.
1. Resurrection
2. Over the worst
3. Dead can wait
4. Stil alive
5. Through the mirror
6. Funeral procession
7. A sea of tears
8. Dirge
9. Her devotion
10. The release
11. Estrangement
12. Dead can wait (acoustic
)
1. Providence
2. Chains
3. Condemnation
4. Dusk
5. Obituary
6. Everlasting words
7. Dissolution
8. Mortal hope
9. The racking call
10. Buried again
11. Dusk
12. Outside (David Bowie
cover version
)
13. Paradize
14. Coma White
(Marilyn Manson
cover)
1. Crusade
2. Fall
3. The figures of disguise
4. Ties of time
5. Craving
6. The soil
7. The drowning sun
8. Dosolated home
9. Burning the shrouds
10. Beyond the maze
1. Prelude
2. Futility
3. New day
4. A better God
5. Intransigence
6. Torn being
7. Courageous
8. The vortex
9. Awakening
10. Vagrants in space
11. Calling the sun
12. Exile
13. The cycle
14. Twist in My Sobriety
(Tanita Tikaram
cover)
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
band, formed in 1993 in Berlin. Initially part of the Gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
and Dark Wave movement, the band had developed considerably by the time of the release of their debut album, incorporating metal elements and modern electronics, causing the band to be considered part of the Gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
genre. Dreadful Shadows disbanded in 2000 to work on separate projects.
Formation
In 1993, Sven Friedrich, Reiko Jeschke, Franc Hofer, Jens Riediger and Ron Thiele founded Dreadful Shadows in Berlin and recorded their first demo. In the same year, guitarist Reiko was replaced by Stefan Neubauer. The band made some appearances in Germany, England and Denmark. The second demo was published, and was discovered by label Sounds of Delight. In December the band began work on their first full-length album Estrangement, which appeared in April 1994. Dreadful Shadows commenced a European tour (touring with Love Like BloodLove Like Blood
Love Like Blood is a German gothic rock/gothic metal band.- Biography :Its nucleus consists of Eysel brothers . The band was active in the years 1989-2001 and is now on hiatus. Its early sound reminisces the style of The Fields of the Nephilim...
, Nosferatu and The Eternal Afflict, among others), making a name for themselves in the Netherlands, England and Denmark.
There followed in 1994 and 1995 some sampler contributions, further concerts and a festival (with Christian Death
Christian Death
Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band was founded and fronted by Rozz Williams. Christian Death is most notable for their first album Only Theatre of Pain....
, Armageddon Dildos
Armageddon Dildos
Armageddon Dildos is a German electro-industrial-duo consisting of Uwe Kanka and Dirk Krause . The act was formed in 1988 in Kassel Germany, and the name comes from the slang term for intercontinental ballistic missiles. They perform songs in both German and English.The Armageddon Dildos have been...
and The Eternal Afflict at the Zillo festival in December 1994) helping to increase Dreadful Shadows' popularity in Germany. In February 1995, the band went back into the studio to record the Homeless EP, which appeared in June 1995. The cover version of the New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
classic True Faith established itself in some clubs as dance hit. Subsequently, the band appeared with Cyan Kills E.Coli, at the Mise Noire festival in Madrid, along with bands Mephisto Walz
Mephisto Walz
Mephisto Walz are a gothic rock group formed in 1985. They have an accomplished discography behind them, having released many full-length albums over the course of their career, through Cleopatra Records and other labels...
and Girls Under Glass
Girls Under Glass
- Biography :1986Girls Under Glass were founded by Thomas Lücke , Hauke Harms and Zaphor aka Volker Zacharias as an offshoot of the gothic rock formation Calling Dead Red Roses.1987...
.
1995 - 2000
In December 1995 Dreadful Shadows separated from label Sounds of Delight. The band subsequently signed to Deathwish Office, the band-owned label of Love Like BloodLove Like Blood
Love Like Blood is a German gothic rock/gothic metal band.- Biography :Its nucleus consists of Eysel brothers . The band was active in the years 1989-2001 and is now on hiatus. Its early sound reminisces the style of The Fields of the Nephilim...
. In March 1996, work began on the second LP Buried Again. During the process, the two guitarists Stefan Neubauer and Franc Hofer left Dreadful Shadows due to internal conflicts. Sven Friedrich and Tom Tony took over the guitar parts. In July 1996 André Feller left and a temporary guitarist in Sebastian Oliver Lange (In Extremo
In Extremo
In Extremo is a German medieval metal band originating from Berlin. The band's musical style combines metal with medieval traditional songs, blending the sound of the standard rock/metal instruments with historical instruments...
) was found. The latter was replaced on a long-term basis by Norman Selbig. The new line-up made an appearance at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen, followed by the album Buried Again and a tour of Germany and Europe (including an appearance at the Sacrosanct festival in London with bands such as Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek...
and Vendemmian in August 1996).
In 1997, Dreadful Shadows moved to the record company Oblivion
Oblivion
Oblivion may refer to:*The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, a 2006 video game*Oblivion , a Marvel Comics character*Oblivion , a 1994 western/science fiction film from Full Moon Entertainment...
, releasing the single Burning the Shrouds. Following a support tour with fellow Gothic metal
Gothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
band Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
, the band's third studio album, Beyond The Maze, was released in February 1998. The promo tour took the band to Beirut/Lebanon. The release of the Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter, best known for the hits "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart...
cover Twist in My Sobriety
Twist in My Sobriety
"Twist in My Sobriety" is a song written and recorded by Tanita Tikaram. Released as a single in 1988 from her debut album Ancient Heart, it was a top ten hit in many European countries, peaking at #2 in Austria and Germany, though it achieved only moderate success in the US and Australia.In 1996,...
concluded a successful year. Their qualities as live band were proved in 1999 when the Dreadful Shadows embarked on an extensive European tour.
Dreadful Shadows' last studio album, The Cycle, was released in September 1999. The band embarked on their final tour of Germany in the year 2000. Sven Friedrich and Norman Selbig formed Zeraphine
Zeraphine
Zeraphine are a gothic alternative rock from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000 by Sven Friedrich and Norman Selbig from the then-defunct Dreadful Shadows.-History:...
shortly after the split. André and Ron formed 'Coma 51', whilst Jens formed his own label Andromeda Records and also the band 'Thanateros'.
2000 - 2007 (post break up)
During the years that followed, many of the Dreadful Shadows albums were remastered and re-released. First, in 2000 the double CD "Estrangement + Homeless" was released. It featured edited artwork and remixed sound. And later, in 2003, "Buried Again" was re-released with similar treatment and bonus tracks; such as cover versions of David Bowie and Marilyn Manson, and remixed versions of "Dusk" and "Paradize".Also, in 2001, "Beyond The Maze" and "The Cycle" were repackaged and sold as one double CD by the label Oblivion, but they were not remastered.
2007 Live Shows - solo project
In 2007, several concerts are planned with Dreadful Shadows performing together as a group. The band are keen to stress that this is not a reunion, as nothing new is being performed or recorded. Fans can vote for the songs they want to hear on the band's website.In related news, Sven Friedrich, the singer of Zeraphine and the Dreadful Shadows, launched his solo project Solar Fake. Solar Fake is a pure electro project and brings what Friedrich describes as pulsating sequencers, driving beats and sometimes wild and aggressive vocals with intensive melodies and melancholic moments. A debut album is planned to be released in February 2008 via Synthetic Symphony/SPV.
Albums
- EstrangementEstrangementEstrangement is the sixth album by Ukrainian black metal band Drudkh, released in August 2007. The album was previously known under the title River of Tears, but then had a name change. Its songs have a minimalistic influence and also features the band's first prominent use of blast beats since...
(1994)
1. Resurrection
2. Over the worst
3. Dead can wait
4. Stil alive
5. Through the mirror
6. Funeral procession
7. A sea of tears
8. Dirge
9. Her devotion
10. The release
11. Estrangement
12. Dead can wait (acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
)
- Buried Again (1997 re-released 2003 with bonus tracks)
1. Providence
2. Chains
3. Condemnation
4. Dusk
5. Obituary
6. Everlasting words
7. Dissolution
8. Mortal hope
9. The racking call
10. Buried again
11. Dusk
12. Outside (David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
)
13. Paradize
14. Coma White
Coma White
"Coma White" is a song by the band Marilyn Manson. It is the last track from the album Mechanical Animals. Despite only being released as a promo single, a video was shot in the wake of the Columbine tragedy controversy surrounding the band, and it also provided a preview of the Holy Wood project...
(Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
cover)
- Beyond The Maze (1998) (Limited edition issued with bonus live CD)
1. Crusade
2. Fall
3. The figures of disguise
4. Ties of time
5. Craving
6. The soil
7. The drowning sun
8. Dosolated home
9. Burning the shrouds
10. Beyond the maze
- The CycleThe CycleThe Cycle is a 1975 Iranian film directed by Dariush Mehrjui. It was Iran's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 50th Academy Awards, the first year that Iran participated in the award...
(1999)
1. Prelude
2. Futility
3. New day
4. A better God
5. Intransigence
6. Torn being
7. Courageous
8. The vortex
9. Awakening
10. Vagrants in space
11. Calling the sun
12. Exile
13. The cycle
14. Twist in My Sobriety
Twist in My Sobriety
"Twist in My Sobriety" is a song written and recorded by Tanita Tikaram. Released as a single in 1988 from her debut album Ancient Heart, it was a top ten hit in many European countries, peaking at #2 in Austria and Germany, though it achieved only moderate success in the US and Australia.In 1996,...
(Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter, best known for the hits "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart...
cover)
- Estrangement + Homeless (2000) (combination of previously released album and EP)
Singles and EPs
- "Homeless EP" (1994 - EP)
- "Burning The Shrouds" (1998 - Single)
- "Twist In My Sobriety" (1999 - Single)
- "Futility" (1999 - Single)
- Apology EP (2000 - sold only at shows)