Bethlehem - Mein Weg CD Review

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2005-07-28 : PM : Link
Bethlehem-Mein Weg (Red Stream)

While most metal fans affection and interest for this band seems to have wandered as of late, for those who haven’t given up faith in these schizophrenic German Dark Metallers, I offer to you the mighty MEIN WEG. While not so much following in the footsteps of the classick DICITUS TE NECARE (“You Must Kill Yourself”), MEIN WEG is entirely it’s own animal; a beast which is at once both sedate and vicious. A vibe not unlike that of a more goth-centered Rammstein can be detected, as well as a very dark shoegazer-esque vibe commonly connected with mid-period Katatonia. These ethereal sounds mesh quite well with the
band’s trademark German vocal delivery, especially when the heavier, Black Metal influence from the band’s classic period rears it’s ugly head. It is on these songs like “Allegoria” where the band is really firing on all
cylinders, with the end result sure to please any Bethlehem fan, old or new. In essence, Bethlehem have entered the second stage of their evolution. While the depressive Black Metal of yore may be a thing of the past, MEIN WEG offers an entirely new expression of darkness which is uniquely Bethlehem’s and theirs alone. It is a trip into a dirty, urban underworld of melancholy and suicide, and it is one well worth looking into.-mg

MetalGeorge Pacheco
Editor-Unhallowed Magazine
Contributing Writer-Metal Maniacs, Imhotep Magazine (Nor), Metal-Rules.com,
Live4Metal.com, BlastFiend.com
Bassassination-The Accursed
2005-07-17 : Frog Cola : Link
I find the need to make a second review because I don't think I emphasized how much Mein Weg is a wonderful evolution of the album "S.U.i.Z.i.D. Aesthetically you might find a share of the people who liked that album will be disappointed by the lack of "extremity" of Mein Weg but it's just as extreme, just on the opposite side of the spectrum. The line between serene / peaceful and sad / distraughtness is tiptoed with precision (musically) by the guitars, which bring to mind some of the best "epic" sounding doom / death metal bands (old Paradise Lost, MDB, etc.) Mein Weg IS a heavy album, but it doesn't have Markus on vocals anymore, in his place are clean / melodic vocals that don't get enough credit for how professional they sound. The clean vocals only make Bethlehem even *more* German-sounding, and the themes in the songs pick up perfectly where S.U.i.Z.i.D. left off. Granted there are a few things about Mein Weg that will throw people off who don't understand the band's sense of humor ("Felbel Fittitch" nearly emulates Metallica's 1991 ballad "Nothing Else Matters" & other "stolen" Metallica-ish riffs are scattered here and there) but in a world of metal music where the craft of songwriting is often swept under the rug, you will find just the opposite ethic from Bethlehem of Grevenbroich, Germany.
In addition to clean vocals and some very user-friendly (user friendly?!?!) the music can go from upbeat and catchy to extremely thick and depressing. The "growled" vocals on Mein Weg are more focused and angry as ever, though they lack the UTTERLY distraught aesthetic that Markus brought to previous albums. Bassist Jurgen Bartsch's bassplaying holds this album together like glue, and is one of the premiere metal bassists of modern metal. My favorite track is "Allegoria", a beautifully depressive and epic Bethlehem track that splices the ambient droning guitars of Katatonia "Discouraged Ones" with some subtle early U2 influence and psychotic growled choruses that lead into hypnotic chanting vocals.
If you dislike the track "Allegoria" you might as well never been a fan of S.U.i.Z.i.D. because it's a VVonderful continuation of the themes from that album. "Im Sog" is so amazing and inspired that it will beg you to replay it over and over, clocking in at about 2 minutes. Overall Mein Weg fully upholds the "Dark Metal" genre, more evolved and morbidly adventurous than ever. May this band have several more albums in them before they're through .......
FrogCola (ex-Hellfrost zine)
2005-07-15 : Drew
Wrong asshole! I've been listening to Bethlehem for two years, so i know what the fuck i'm talking about.This album has nothing to offer to fans of their older material. It's mainly the weak vocalist that ruins it the whole thing. He certainly can't hold a candle to the previous singers
2005-07-14 : Frog Cola : Link
This album is nearly perfect if you like passionate dark rock that was inspired by years of suicidal post-black metal weirdness. This is by far the most accomplished album for the band in terms of presentation and production. If you are expecting something extreme, you may not like it, but if you like serene, melodic dark rock/metal there's no way you won't find this album appealing. Bethelehem squashes bands like Type O Negative like a soda can in terms of dark atmosphere. Bethlehem are demented individuals and excellent songwriters. Mein Weg is very dark but some tracks are very inspiring and upbeat (Im Sog). Upbeat? Bethlehem? Geniuses! This is to be one of the best Red Stream releases of all time, overall. German rock is still cutting edge.
Frog Cola (ex-Hellfrost zine)
2005-07-03 : metal
It's a good album, some people (Drew) obviously never heard Bethlehem prior to this, and feels the need to make us all a little dumber. Bethlehem is either hit or miss, so before you buy it try it.
2005-02-27 : PM : Link
That’s another album from these Dark Metal Germans. As following the previous ones, they add each other day more “traveling” (inspiration, I’d say) elements to their music. Well, even having a stranger front cover and the album’s title along a code bar the music is very interesting. The eight tracks inside "Mein Weg" have got many acoustic, narrative, and recital passages among the fast and heavy tempos. The guitars are really, really heavy, and the slow parts are really very slow marked by wonderful guitar solos with incredible melodies. We know Bethelehem nowadays has a lighter music than previous albums, but their obscure identity won’t let them down! Here is the set list: "Aalmutter", "Allegoria", "Knochenkorn frl. deutsch", "Felbel fittich", "Dr. miezo elf soffitten", "Einsargen", "I'm sog" and "Maschinensatan".
2005-02-25 : PM : Link
BETHLEHEM
Mein Weg
(Red Stream)
Rating - 8/10

It's cool to see this long-running German group still at it. Always
falling vaguely into the 'dark metal' category, Bethlehem has always stayed
one or two steps outside of any predictable genre. After the massive and
complex Schatten aus der Alexander Welt double-album, it's kind of nice to
hear that Mein Weg is a bit more straight forward. Just a bit, though…

"Aalmutter" starts things off with a mid-tempo groove that is deceptively
simple, but the piano that leads into "Allegoria" lets you know that
Bethlehem still have plenty of tricks up their sleeve. The vocal styles
pursued throughout the album vary quite a bit, from clean and majestic to
gruff and dark, though the latter tends towards the harder industrial
vocalists more than it does to typical death metal 'singers.' Although the
electronic elements that were so prevalent on the last album are
significantly toned down this time, their presence still adds an alien feel
to "Knochenkorn." The diversity is as strong as ever, too, as the band
moves from the weighty, epic-length "Frl. Deutsch" straight into the almost
folky acoustic tune "Febel Fittich" effortlessly. Not to mention the
'hidden' track, a thoroughly un-metal version of "My Way."

Bethlehem are not an easy band to recommend to someone of specific tastes,
as their sound is so eclectic, with little in the way of catchy riffs or
vocal melodies. For metal fans looking for moody, complex and
unpredictable music that is played and produced with great skill and
conviction, Mein Weg may be just what you are looking
for. http://www.redstream.org
[Daniel Hinds]
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http://outburn.com [alternative magazine]
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2005-01-27 : Drew Fowler
This album blows donkey dick. The singer sucks, the guitars suck, and the black metal blast beats are all to brief. Stay away from this piece of shit!
2005-01-24 : Patrick : Link
In the odd, odd web that extreme metal weaves, Bethlehem is certainly the weaver of worlds. Whereas I expected to absolutely loathe the Goth rock/industrial/whatever direction the suicide kings have taken, I am quite pleased and impressed with Mein Weg. I have kept myself away ever since they shot themselves in the foot with Dictius te Necare, the soul draining masterpiece that everyone needs to hear. When bands change directions they can kill their credit, or they can write really good fucking music, which is exactly what has happened here. Mein Weg is a rocking excursion of thick rock riffing ala’ HIM, and gruff, domineering German chanting reminiscent of Rammstein. The Dark Metal still makes itself known; the fucking assault 4 minutes into “Allegoria” catches the listener very off guard, before slipping back into the gothic crooning and depressive piano. The electronic/industrial elements (which is a genre I am hardly privy to) thicken up the aura very effectively, as unobtrusive and seemingly harmless as Mein Weg is compared to Dictius, this is a scary fucking multiple personality disorder of a record. If ever there was a band to accompany the final scenes of Jorg Buttgereit’s Nekromantik, Bethlehem is it (those who know this film, I hope you understand). There are just too many descriptors for me to keep on and keep on concerning the layers this record goes through, just let me say it is all good, and worth a listen by everybody.
2005-01-19 : Patrick : Link
Here is the new Bethlehem album and it continues the path of their previous "Schatten Aus der Alexander Welt". That is heavy and atmospheric guitar riffs and at the same with a combination of deep and aggressive vocals. the first track has a repetitive guitar riff that soon sticks into your mind making the track extremely memorable. The guitar melodies reminded me of some Paradise Lost (Icon-era) but they have their own identity as Bethlehem has proved throug their latest albums. There are keyboards that give a feeling of sorrow to the music and that is one trademark of Bethlehem´s music. "Mein Weg" is "My Way" in german language and I think that is the point: Bethlehem is following their own path with originality. A great release that emphasizes the identity of this german band.
2004-11-16 : Patrick : Link
The cover artwork of this album had prepared me for what I was going to hear. Finally I accredit that I was right. During the review, Bethlehem made me recollect my past childhood memories and they transported me into a sweet melancholy. I believe that the weather, here in Greece now, is suitable for hearing such melodies. So if you want a romantic and emotional moment together with Black and dark Metal, just listen to this album.

Bartsch and Matton (both previously with the group Dark Tempest) formed Bethlehem in late 1991 in a more Death Metal direction than their previous act. After several line-up changes the group released its debut album, "Dark Metal" in 1994. Classen then joined Paragon Belial for the "Hordes Of The Dark" album and later reunited with Bethlehem drummer Rolf to forge Dark Creation. He would also surface as guest lead vocalist for Swedish Black Metal band Shining on their "Within Deep Dark Chambers" album. Bethlehem is not by any chance a melancholic group. The pair both had suffered from early tragic suicides of family members with Bartsch’s girlfriend and aunt hanging themselves and Matton’s father doing likewise.

Bethlehem’s fifth album, "Mein Weg", has melancholic melodies, as I mentioned before. It also has romantic moments, Heavy Metal riffs, a lot of Black Metal bursts and Doom lamentations. The vocals have a deeply heavy German pronunciation which adds a more darkness to the already dark atmosphere. The third song, "Knochenkorn" (which is my favourite), has pure evidence of hard technical industrial sounds."Felbel Fittich" reminds me of "Enter Sadman" (Metallica). "Maschinensatan" is a really passionate Doom song which I also adore. In the end of this album awaits a surprise for you. It’s a revision of Frank Sinatra’s "My Way". This song is for sure unrelated to the whole album, but it’s also melancholic. Unfortunately I don’t know which one of the two vocalists sings this revision, but I must say that whoever it is, he has an excellent voice and many capabilities for singing such songs.

Summary: Bethlehem must be influenced by Dark Metal groups like Tiamat and Katatonia and also by the gothic-hard-industrial scene. I put "Mein Weg" in my favorite dark albums.

- Album Highlights: "Knochenkorn", "Maschinensatan" and the revision of Frank Sinatra’s "My Way".
2004-11-10 : Patrick : Link
This is the fifth album of the German band and once again they have released a good album. This time it is more Goth oriented and more Dark metal oriented, while they still have enough black metal influences in their music. Somehow it feels like they have blended all their previous influences and all the different things they have done in the past into one album. Most of the songs are very good and if nothing else the guys know how to write a good song and they certainly do posses the required skills in order to deliver some nice music. The atmosphere is very dark and the German lyrics only enhance that atmosphere, by making the album sound more ominous. I like the way they blend the dark melodies and atmosphere with the blast beats and the more extreme parts of their music and I liked the fact that they sound original enough. This is certainly an album to check out if you are into this kind of music.

8/10
2004-11-06 : Ibex Ichor
Well, I have to admit... I started listening to this expecting a return of the older (and better) Bethlehem but, somewhere in the back of my mine I knew they were going to continue on the path of their last album.

This album is very similar to the last but, it is much better. I have one big complaint with this album... the very poor attempts at trying to be extreme. They are very lame and corny for the most part. Bethlehem should just face the fact that they've lost their extremeness. I'm sure that this has been said often but I shall say it as well... when the vocalist tries doing grunts he sounds very much like the vocalist of Rammstein which is annoying. I figure that maybe Bethlehem have considered riding the coat tails of Rammstein in order to get into the spotlight and gain fame and popularity. If that is the case, I have to say... that is rather pathetic.

Another thing that bothers me with this album is the lame and boring guitar riffs. They're all pretty much simple power chords and such. I wonder if Bethlehem are saying to themselves, "Nu-metal, here we come!"

I don't have all complaints about this album though. The more mellow moments of the album are quite good. The only thing I liked about the last album and probably the only thing I like of this one as well. Bethlehem would be better off stopping their attempts at trying to be extreme and just focus on the more melodic side now because you have to admit, ever since S.U.i.Z.i.D. when they added the more melodic side of the music, each album has gone downhill with the extreme factor. So, with that said, it would be for the best if they did just focus on their melodic side and drop the attempts at being extreme. I don't think that'll happen though so really, I think Bethlehem are better off disbanding. Everytime they try to be extreme they're only ruining their old reputation.

I'm thinking that Bethlehem will carry on with a few more albums before finally calling it a day. It's probably obvious that I strongly dislike the heavier moments of this album. Like I said though, the more mellow side is worth a listen. I'd probably have to say that the song "Frl. Deutsch" is the best of the album but, there are some parts in it that I find annoying. For instance, the samples used from The Shining and the techno beats are just corny.

So I figure that they will carry on for a few more albums and if they haven't reached the mainstream success, which they are obviously trying to obtain, they will just disband. They're better off I'd say.

This album is simply okay... it's worth owning for the melodic side of the album (if the "exteme" side of the album doesn't annoy you to death first).
2004-11-02 : Patrick : Link
Bethlehem (no relation to the 50's jazz record company of the same name, nor the 70's Christian country rock group) is one of the latest group of CDs that I never would have paid attention to, had I not received them for the sake of reviewing, yet am very happy to have discovered. "Mein Weg," the German band's tenth release, is also one of the strangest CDs I have heard this year. It's not alienatingly avant garde (although I certainly love those sorts of albums), but is still eclectic enough to push the limits of how many styles can be incorporated into one cohesive musical whole.

This is the first Bethlehem music I have ever heard, but the band has an extensive discography. I can't vouch for what earlier material sounded like, nor can I make any direct comparisons between "Mein Weg" and previous albums. But I can say this: it's been a while since I've heard a metal album as diverse as this. In fact, diverse might not be the correct term; 'all over the place' seems to fit much more satisfyingly.

"Mein Weg" features death metal, black metal, industrial, doom, alternative rock, and even opera... and I'm sure I'm still missing something somewhere. There are acoustic guitars and heavily distorted guitars. There are growls, harmonized choruses, screams, and theatrical vibrato. There are pianos, computerized clicks and fuzz, string sections, blast beats... you get the picture. Yet somehow, all these seemingly discordant techniques are incorporated into an album that never feels like it loses sight of itself. As strange as things can be, "Mein Weg" sounds from beginning to end the product of one band and one sonic vision.

The album's opening track, "Aalmutter," sounds like something Rammstein might have concocted: heavy guitar riffs, alternating harsh and melodic vocals, and an almost industrial edge (though there are no electronic effects to be found... on this song, at least). "Frl. Deutsch" is slow, dark, and emotional, a nigh-epic-length song with strongly operatic vocals and not too much heaviness. The 'redrum' interlude is strange, to say the least. Immediately after this track is "Felbel Fittich," an even lighter song with acoustic guitars and synthesized violins... very much like Metallica's "The Unforgiven" sung in German. And immediately after that song is "Dr. Miezo," which begins with brutal black metal (complete with harsh screams and blasting percussion), moves into slow doom, and ends with theatrical spoken word sans music. And I can't even begin to describe the 'secret track.'

I can't tell you much about the band themselves, as Red Stream failed to provide anything save a stark promo slipcase + CD, and the band's own website lacks any sort of biographical information. Too bad...

But nonetheless, this is a remarkable album. I am very much interested in Bethlehem's earlier material, if for no other reason than to give light to the sort of musical evolution that leads to an album as intriguing as "Mein Weg." Chaos melded into order... avant garde death doom with industrial and pop influences... this is a difficult album to describe, and any one song will fail to capture the scope of the whole. But Bethlehem's latest release should appeal to those who like their metal dark, heavy, passionate, aggressive, and varied. To say the least.
2004-11-02 : SATANIKA : Link
After Alles Tot and Dictius te Necare 2cd set, we thought something really extreme was coming, however, Bethlehem decided to explore a diferent ground with this one, just like they did on Schatten Aus Der Alexander Welt, but this time they took the wrong way. Unique? yes, they never did something like this before and probably never will. Experimental? maybe, if they mean experimetal by changing their style radically. Can't say it's a bad album, i'd rather say it's only recommended for die-hard fans. It's word giving a try, it's a good album but not as good as we expected.
SAtaniKA's deception of the year award 2004.
2004-10-28 : Sociopathologist
"Pure uniqueness" my ass... more like pure shit.