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Weiland cover

Empyrium started as German symphonic folk doom metal band founded in 1994 by Markus Stock (mostly using the pseudonym Ulf T. Schwadorf) and Andreas Bach, but later many other participated. Their first two albums, A Wintersunset and Songs of Moors and Misty Fields, can be considered doom metal with folk and symphonic influences. They combine harsh and operatic male vocals, with deep slow guitar parts and atmospheric sounds.

The following two albums; Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays and Weiland are acoustic, display a constantly heavier neofolk influence. Instead of keyboards, the band switched to acoustic instruments such as violins, cellos and the flute. Operatic male vocals are still used, and in Weiland the band uses choir with occasional Black Metal rasps. Though the music still remains dark and melancholic, Empyrium's music has largely moved away from Heavy Metal.

The band draws inspiration from nature as some of the album titles reveal. The lyrics are mostly in English, though in Weiland only German is performed. After their last album, Weiland, the band decided to stop recording.

In August 2006 their label, Prophecy Productions, announced publicly for the first time that a new album was going to be released in late November the same year. Called A Retrospective, it is a look back on the history of the band. Aside from ten remastered tracks from their previous albums, it contains a re-recorded version of The Franconian Woods In Winter's Silence from the album A Wintersunset, as well as two new tracks in the unique neofolk style of late Empyrium. In the sixty page booklet it is said that there will be an extensive account of the musical influences of the band, and how Empyrium has changed over the years. The album leaked onto the Internet in early November.

• ...Der wie ein Blitz vom Himmel fiel... demo tape 1995
• A Wintersunset CD/2LP 1996
• Songs of Moors & Misty Fields CD 1997
• Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays CD/2LP 1999
• Drei Auszüge aus Weiland 7"EP 2002
• Weiland CD/3CD/2LP 2002
• A Retrospective CD 2006

• Noekk - reunion band of Empyrium members
• Sun of the Sleepless
• Autumn Blaze
• The Vision Bleak
• Nachtmahr

• Empyrium Official Webpage
• Empyrium at MySpace
• Empyrium at MusicBrainz