Todschick - Black LP

black vinyl in Gatefold Cover

"Germany’s dark metal pioneers NACHTBLUT are set to release their seventh studio album, Todschick [eng: dead chic], on February 21, 2025 via Napalm Records. Following their successful album Vanitas (2020), which reached #19 on the official German album charts and is regarded as the band’s most successful work to date, they now unveil ten new tracks to thrill their bloodthirsty fans. With Todschick, the band expands their repertoire, incorporating various stylistic elements and synthesizer sounds, paying tribute to the 1980s. This variability, a staple of the band's style, merges seamlessly with their signature dark metal elements and Askeroth’s distinctive vocals. Produced by the renowned Chris Harms of Lord of the Lost, the wooden box set also includes a bonus CD with seven additional tracks, featuring collaborations with guest artists such as Frank Herzig (Schattenmann), Freki (Varg), Tetzel (Asenblut/All For Metal), Eric Fish (Subway To Sally), and other genre heavyweights, promising an extra surprise. The title track “Todschick,” like death itself, blends catchy synths with explosive riffs, embracing the inevitability of death while redefining the beauty of darkness. The melancholic track “Das Leben der Anderen” criticizes modern societal ills like doom-scrolling through social media, overlaying the seemingly perfect lives of others with guttural screams. Meanwhile, the dark, new-wave-synth track “Manchmal kommen sie wieder” explores the eternal cycles of creation, destruction, and war. Some songs also reference film classics, including “Stirb Langsam,” a humorous celebration of escapism, which, in true NACHTBLUT style, conceals a sharp message. Tracks like “Kinder des Zorns” invite headbanging with especially hard riffs and tempo. With “Schneller als der Tod,” the band ventures into entirely new musical territory, seamlessly merging epic wild west elements with the powerful sounds of dark metal. Energetic melodies blend perfectly with Askeroth's characteristic vocals, creating a unique atmosphere that brings the album to a striking conclusion, offering an unexpected musical twist. With Todschick, NACHTBLUT not only masterfully enriches dark metal with captivating, genre-spanning sounds that set new accents, but also addresses contemporary societal issues, striking a chord with the times. This new masterpiece is an invitation to view the dark beauty of life and its challenges in a new light, and to join the band on their 2025 headline tour to experience it live!"