Dies Irae - First (1971/2009 Remastered Digipak Edition, Ohrwaschl Records) {Krautrock}
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Artist: Dies Irae
Album: First (Remastered Digipak Edition)
Released: 1971/2009
Ohrwaschl Records (OW026-2 CD {LC 11965})
Genre: Heavy Prog, Krautrock, Heavy Blues, Progressive Hard Rock
The Crack In The Cosmic Egg: Very little is known about Dies Irae, except that it is rumoured that Manfred von Bohr (of Message and Birth Control) started his career with them. They are shrouded in mystery, and were hardly at all typical of bands on the Pilz label. Dies Irae, despite the Gothic religious imagery of their name, played a heavy brand of Krautrock, blending in jazz, blues and psychedelic touches. Really, every track was in a different style. Mostly they used straight rock structures, with good songs (mild German accents in English), and much psychedelic spice. All creatively and imaginatively played, and inter-cut with all sorts of surprising twists and turns. They could be really HEAVY or trip-out on the esoteric ether. Maybe less distinctive than most Krautrock of the era, Dies Irae were nonetheless excellent! The album title seemed to imply their intent for a second album, but it never happened! - By Alan Freeman and Stephen Freeman.
Those Who Seek Life in the face of death
Those who seek love in the face of hatred
Those who seek peace in the face of war
There is the Legacy of the lord Lucifer...!!
Those Who Found Life in the face of death
Those who Found love in the face of hatred
Those who Found peace in the face of war
They have conquered of the darkness of doom
there is the eternity of the new era...!!!
Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock: They have featured only this album on the legendary Pilz label and one single with the tracks "Lucifer" and "Tired", included in First. Apparently Manfred von Bohr (Birth Control, amongst others) have been with them. They participate also on the compilation Heavy Christmas, a sui-generis LP of the Pilz label, with original tracks related to Christmas. The music they play on First is a hard (kraut)rock, based in blues, with lots of harmonic. But the album is very varied with tracks not similar one to another, some included more rock, some more fusionist (jazzy and psychedelic touches), but all with the power of (kraut)rock and the melody that take them to a very efficient lot of songs. The production is charged to J. Schmeisser, first owner of the Pilz label, subsidiary of BASF (then substituted by Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser) and the Engineering is from the legendary master of the studio Conny Plank. The LP is from 1971 but there is a release in CD by Ohrwaschl label in 1994 (OW026) - Luis Jerónimo
Orexis Of Death Blog: Dies Irae were a heavy progressive group who recorded their sole album 'First' for Pilz before the label fell into the hands of Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser. Dominated by blues, 'First' is a heavy progressive effort owing much to the heavy blues sound and occult nature of Black Sabbath's debut album. Song titles such as 'Lucifer', 'Harmagedon Dragonlove', and 'Witches Meeting' display the groups interest in the dark side. The standout track for krautrock fans is sure to be the seven-minute freak out 'Trip'. A spacey track, 'Trip' begins with an outstanding electronic collage which gives way to a peaceful free flowing jam containing acid-drenched celestial vocals. Fans of the heavy progressive sound will find 'Lucifer' and 'Witches Meeting' to be the best cuts. 'Lucifer' contains an ultra aggressive guitar and harmonica riff slightly reminiscent of 'The Wizard' from 'Black Sabbath'. 'Witches Meeting', an extended track encompassing numerous musical sections, contains a rocking guitar solo and a furious ending. As a whole, the album is sure to please most fans with its heavy nature. Very happening chunk of hard kraut psych from these potheads. Nice fuzzy blues based hard rock ala Hairy Chapter with lots of variety and good tunes. With songs like "Red Lebanese" and "Trip" these guys where smokin' the good stuff.
Cosmic Dreams at Play - A guide to German Progressive and Electronic Rock:This was a great "heavy progressive" quartet from Saarbrücken (near the French border). Their first and only album (entitled, "First") was recorded in just two days (during June 1971) in the Star Studio, Hamburg and produced by the then Pilz' label manager Jurgen Schmeisser. Konrad Plank was (as ever) engineering. Musically they were inspired by several British heavy rockers. The harmonica gave many tracks a bluesy feeling, comparable to the first Black Sabbath album. This group proved to be an inspirational source for the lyrics as well, dealing with drugs and the occult. Included were titles like "Lucifer", "Harmaggedon Dragonlove", "Witches' Meeting", "Red Lebanese" and "Trip". The last mentioned track was the highlight of the album: an eight minute long spacy instrumental crescendo building up to a frenzy, almost like the early Ash Ra Tempel. However, Dies Irae's finest moment was not to be found on their album. A staggering version of "Silent Night" with air defence sirens and bombing noises was Dies Irae's fantastic contribution to the Heavy Christmas album! When Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser later took over the responsibility for Pilz, he changed the label's musical focus more towards folk-rock, releasing classic albums by Hoelderlin, Emtidi, Broselmaschine and Popol Vuh. Dies Irae were indeed hardly folk-rockers, rather folks playing hard rock! They were consequently dropped by the label. Their album is indispensable for heavy progressive collectors, even if not in the same class as Armageddon! It's not very rare, but much in demand. - By Dag Erik Asbjørnsen.
Track List:
01 - Lucifer
02 - Salve Oimel
03 - Another Room
04 - Trip
05 - Harmagedon Dragonlove
06 - Tired
07 - Witches Meeting
08 - Red Lebanes
09 - Run Off
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