LORD VIGO
DANSE DE NOIR

The Germans' fourth release turned out to be a true concept album with countless narrative segments and interludes in between songs that each represent "a memory implanted into the mind of our female protagonist Nihlai, a replicant within the Blade Runner universe," drummer and singer Vinz Clortho explains. "We tell a classical story set to music and meant to be a unified piece of work." Besides a whole bunch of familiarly stoical stompers such as the opening title track, a rabble-rousing anthem if there ever was one, the surprisingly agile 'Shoulder of Orion' with its uplifting instrumental section, Manowaresque bass and choir textures, or the sprightly, cowbell-propelled rocker 'Between Despair and Ecstasy' stand testament to musicians who, by now at the latest, have come into their own.