A true, but distinctive take on the melodic death metal genre
For twenty-seven years, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter has been a dominant force in the German metal scene. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter (translated to The Apocalyptic Riders) utilize a melodic death/thrash metal sound that has made them internationally successful with their incredible flow and powerful lyrics.
In April of 2022, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter released their twelfth studio album, Wilde Kinder. What has enabled the group’s longstanding success is its consistency and developing chemistry. The current lineup consists of Daniel Täumel at lead vocals, Volkmar Weber at bass, Mark Szakul at keyboards, Georg Lenhardt at drums and Adrian Vogel at lead guitar.
Wilde Kinder celebrates the group’s twenty-seventh anniversary and does so with a bang. Wilde Kinder is well-produced and comes with authentic, emotionally sound vocals. The Weimar, Germany-based group showcases their musical talents on Wilde Kinder with a collection of diverse songs.
“Von Freiheit will Ich singen” starts Wilde Kinder by staying true to the melodic death metal genre. The music is moderate in its use of the bass and drums, as it balances the two that make the song sound more like rock than death metal. “Von Freiheit will Ich singen” is an example of how Die Apokalyptischen Reiter can balance both extreme metalcore and melodic death metal which is seen throughout Wilde Kinder.
“Alles ist gut” is another example of how Die Apokalyptischen Reiter can balance different instruments and influences throughout Wilde Kinder. What differentiates the two songs is the suspenseful feelings given by the vocals. In “Alles ist gut,” there is a feeling of suspense, and desperation that is complimented very well by the instrumentals. The ability to create new sounds from song to song is something Die Apokalyptischen Reiter has done exceptionally well on Wilde Kinder.
“Blau” shows the group’s continued ability to balance different tones and different musical sounds. This track is a quieter song than others, in the sense that the thrashing metal previously shown is toned down. Nonetheless, the music is still enjoyable and complimented by softer vocals.
Wilde Kinder is exceptional for the diverse use of vocals and music. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter can keep their sound fresh from song to song. The group can adapt instrumentally and vocally, making for an eccentric and refreshing adaptation of melodic death metal. For the past twenty-seven years, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter has been dominant in the German metal scene and doesn’t appear to have slowed down.
Leave a Comment