Powerwolf is a power heavy metal band from Germany. The band has been on the heavy music scene for over 20 years. The creative base of the team is a combination of Christian motifs with gloomy choral inserts and organ parts.
The work of the Powerwolf group cannot be attributed to the classic manifestation of power metal. Musicians are distinguished by the use of bodypaint, as well as elements of gothic music. The band's tracks often play with werewolf themes from Transylvania and vampire legends.
Powerwolf concerts are extravaganza, shows and outrageous. At bright performances, musicians often appear in shocking costumes and terrifying makeup. For those who are a little familiar with the work of a power heavy metal band, it may seem that the guys are glorifying Satanism.
But, in fact, in their songs, the guys are "observers" who laugh at devil worship, Satanism and Catholicism.
The history of the creation and composition of the Powerwolf group
It all started in 2003. The background of the Powerwolf group is at the origins of the Red Aim team. The group was created by talented musician brothers Greywolf. Soon the duet, which consisted of Matthew and Charles, was joined by drummer Stefan Funebre and pianist Falk Maria Schlegel. The last member of the group was Attila Dorn.
It is interesting that for 10 years the composition has not changed, which is absolutely atypical for most bands. In 2012, the band was working on their fourth album. Then the drummer left the band. His place was taken by Dutch-born Roel Van Heyden. Prior to this, the musician was part of such groups as My Favorite Scar and Subsignal.
In 2020, the composition of the team looks like this:
- Karsten "Attila Dorn" Brill;
- Benjamin "Matthew Greywolf" Buss;
- David "Charles Greywolf" Vogt
- Roel van Heyden;
- Christian "Falk Maria Schlegel".
The band's musical style
The band's style is a mix of power metal and traditional heavy metal with elements of gothic metal. If you watch live performances of the band, you can hear black metal in them.
The style of the Powerwolf group differs from similar groups in the wide use of the sounds of the church organ and choir. Powerwolf's list of favorite bands includes Black Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, Forbidden and Iron Maiden.
The creative path of the Powerwolf group
In 2005, the Powerwolf team began work on their debut album, Return in Bloodred. The first collection was equally warmly received by music critics and demanding music lovers.
Lyrics and music tracks Mr. Sinister and We Came to Take Your Souls were dedicated to the times and reign of Count Dracula. The compositions Demons & Diamonds, Lucifer in Starlight and Kiss of the Cobra King deal with Satanism and the apocalypse.
A year later, it became known that the musicians were working on their second studio album. The album Lupus Dei was released in 2007. The record was partly recorded in an old XNUMXth-century chapel.
The second album partially opened a page in the biography of the musicians. Presented a conceptual version of the Bible in the compositions We Take It From the Living, Prayer in the Dark, Behind the Leather Mask and When the Moon Shines Red. A significant event in the history of the record was that the soloists involved in the recording of the choir, which consisted of over 30 participants. Together the musicians managed to create a legend and a German parable Thiess of Kaltenbrun.
After the presentation of the second studio album, the musicians went on a long tour. Meanwhile, they did not forget to please the fans with the release of bright video clips. They perfectly visualized what the Powerwolf vocalist sings about.
The group's third album
Upon returning to their homeland, the presentation of the third album, Bible of the Beast, took place. This record was created with the participation of graduates of the music academy Hochschule für Musik Saar. The most memorable songs of the album were the compositions of Seven Deadly Saints Moscow After Dark.
The year 2011 did not remain without musical novelties. Then the band's discography was replenished with the album Blood of the Saints. A video clip was filmed for one of the songs in an old church.
A few years later, the musicians presented their fifth studio album Preachers of the Night. The band devoted the tracks of the collection to the themes of the Crusades.
2014 was rich in two albums at once. We are talking about the plates The History of Heresy I and The History of Heresy II. In addition, a little later, the presentation of the singles Army of the Night and Armata Strigoi. They have opened the tracklist for the new album Blessed & Possessed.
In 2017, information appeared on social networks that the musicians were preparing material for the presentation of a new collection. After 9 months, the band members presented the album The Sacrament of Sin. Powerwolf's songs were performed by musicians from other well-known bands Battle Beast, Amaranthe and Eluveitie.
Some time later, the new disc was awarded a prestigious award. In 2018, in support of the new album, the musicians went on a European tour, which lasted until 2019.
Almost immediately after the tour, the band released a reissue of the Metallum Nostrum cover compilation. In the same 2019, the musicians announced that fans would soon enjoy the tracks of the new album.
Interesting facts about the Powerwolf group
- The band's musicians focus on rhythm sections, not solos.
- Often members of the Powerwolf group invite a professional choir to record compositions. This approach gives the band's music an atmosphere.
- The main language of the compositions is English and Latin.
- The theme of Powerwolf songs are tracks about religion, vampires and werewolves. However, Matthew focuses on the fact that they sing about religion, not for religion. Religion for musicians is metal.
Powerwolf Group today
The year 2020 began for the members of Powerwolf with the fact that the musicians went on tour in Latin America for the first time with the band Amon Amarth. However, they failed to finish the tour. The fact is that some of the concerts had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, in the same year, the musicians replenished the band's discography with a new album of the best tracks, Best of the Blessed.
Powerwolf Group in 2021
On April 28, members of the band announced the start of recording a new album, which will be released in 2021.
The news that Powerwolf in 2021 postponed the Russian tour for a year, of course, upset the fans. But at the end of June of the same year, the guys decided to improve the mood of the "fans" by presenting a video for the track Dancing With The Dead. Music lovers incredibly warmly accepted the novelty from their idols.
