THUNDERKRAFT "Totentanz"

A fascinating, eclectic musical journey somewhat unified by an Eastern European feel. That such disparate bands as Bal-Sagoth (album opener), Laibach (see title track), and Nokturnal Mortum can be cited as influences and yet the album manages to progress rather fluidly is testament to the band's musicianship and songwriting skills.

Some bands try to do something original, Thunderkraft succeeded in this. They bring their Industrial Folk Black/Death metal to the next new level.

Not a lot to compare this to. Perhaps a dash of Germans Die Apokalyptischen Rieter or a more electronically infused alternative to Nokturnal Mortum's folksier exhibitions. Perhaps a metalized, symphonic EBM.

This album is a victory achieved by a very different band from those found in the everyday panorama of modern metal. Thunderkraft aren’t afraid to experiment and come off sounding totally unorthodox and different. They aren’t afraid of sounding like Rammstein, modern day Samael, Fear Factory and Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, all put together in a blender. ... It is a great example of experimental music done right.

I enjoyed listening to Totentanz generally. Listeners will want to keep in mind that it is anything but conventional metal-oriented music. I definitely wouldn't suggest it as an introduction to folk metal for new listeners. This is a recording best appreciated by those who want to know what creative people are doing to reach beyond blending folk melodies and rhythms into death metal.

It is a great work that brings a nice fresh air to the saturated world of the folkish sounds and that will make us look forward to the next work, which they should be finishing now while I write these lines.

If you really want your mind to explode, I mean really explode with blood and brain matter covering the walls like abstract art, then you need to listen to Totentanz. ... THUNDERKRAFT has joined the ranks of many past greats who have added a new dimension onto a sacred metal genre cow.

...sets Thuderkraft apart from many other Kharkiv bands. Not going for the usual fuzzily produced, overtly melodic, tremolo-ridden black metal, Thunderkraft instead root their approach in tightly organized, groovy, almost militaristic or industrialized, death metal, which has a bit of the old Swedish (Nihilist, Unleashed), but also brings to mind Moonspell due to those industrial slamming rhythms. ... The album is definitely not a copycat of something existing to date, and pulls enough from multiple genres to start carving a niche of its own.

Thunderkraft's latest effort, Totentanz is a nice mixed bag of surprises, and while at times it could get slightly dry, overall the album is a pretty enjoyable release to say the least, and is good for fans of folk metal looking for something that sounds fresh and different from the usual folk metal releases.

If you find yourself looking for something different and don't mind that this Ukrainian act really does march to the beat of it's own drummer then this is an album you must hear. Folk black metal is one thing. Mixing in electronic elements though transports this one to a whole different realm. Interesting to say the least.

A huge and rich variety is what you will find on an album like "Totentanz" which, honestly, has surprised me because of the style and because the songwriting is full of changes and passages that absolutely break any possible linearity and that takes us to their own THUNDERKRAFT'S world.