Ok, I downloaded the album and I have to say I'm very pleased. I like this a lot more than Hexenwind. It kind of feels like a transition album between Bitter ist's.../Her von... and Hexenwind. The stand out track would be the last (8th) track, which is just beautiful. I don't have the track names yet, but I think it's the song called Durch den Traum, as that phrase is whipered in it. The album has that hypnotic quality that Hexenwind had, but with more diversity and acoustics that remind me of their 3rd and 2nd albums. There are more distorted guitars present than in Hexenwind, but the music can only occasionally be called metal.

One of, if not the best album of the year.

I'll try not to flood you with questions here, as I have no idea how you obtained it.

Can you tell whether Val?es is actually present in this album?

And did they do that English cover of that Tori Amos song?

One of, if not the best album of the year.

Right so I must check this album out huh?

Can you tell whether Val?es is actually present in this album?
I can't tell for sure. I can't hear any of his vocals (though since Ev?ga has changed his vocal style quite a lot, it's hard to tell who sings what) on the album and there are rarely any electronics present, so his synth playing seems absent as well. Considering that only Ev?ga is listed under members on both their official site and on metal-archives, it wouldn't be that far fetched to guess that he didn't participate on this one. He could by counted as a "session musician" though, if he didn't take part in the composing process. I don't know.

And did they do that English cover of that Tori Amos song?
Nothing that reminds me of Tori Amos on this album.


Also, I don't have the bonus track that is supposed to be on the digipack version.
And yes Laichzeit, you do.

Well I've listened to it once through. It's probably a little too early to comment, but I got the feeling it would have worked better as a "bridging" album between Her von... and Hexenwind, in that it seems to (attempt to) combine both the former and latter albums' styles. I remember a line in posted on Herzeleid, saying "...the result is music spread too thinly" which was pretty much the impression I got also. ...And where for art thou Val?es

Definitely wasn't disappointed with it, and there were some great moments, but like a lot of great music, it'll take work to get into. Dornenreich are probably my favourite band and I'll probably end up loving it, as I did with Hexenwind. And am I the only one who detects a distinct Burzum-esque sound in the distortion? Most notably in VIII.