Profane Fetmilch lenzt elf krank

A short, but very interesting release from a one of the most schizoid band in extreme metal. "Profane Fetmilch Lenzt Elf Krank" is a sort of an epilogue to both "Sardonischer Untergang im Zeichen irreligiöser Darbietung" album and the early era of Bethlehem's oeuvre. Two tracks - tons of insanity. As there're only two of them, let's talk about them separately. There's something to say about both of them, that's for sure.

"Gar Albern Es Uns Totgebar" is a composition written in the style of just mentioned "Sardonischer Untergang Im Zeichen Irreligiöser Darbietung". It's Bethlehem's trademark epitome of mental catastrophes. After a maniacally vigorous beginning the music of "Gar Albern Es Uns Totgebar" sounds in a playful fashion, as if it's a kids' rhyme / jump rope song, but then it becomes tranquil and a bit sad. After that tempo will suddenly increase, an insane excitement returns. Expressive vocals alternate with whisper, while vicious screaming appears from time to time.

"Von Bittersüssem Suizid" is a one of the most unusual and underrated compositions of Bethlehem. Actually, even a one of the best. In fact, stylistically it's nearly punk rock. It's majorly dynamic and contains a kind of sore gladness. It hides insanity behind a prism of joy. Marco performs clean and his vocals sound both jubilant and mad. He masterfully changes tones of his voice, shifts to quiet weeping and crazy laughter. Bartsch's catchy bass lines and Matton's melodic lead guitars sound mind-blowing. "Von Bittersüssem Suizid" fascinates with its cheerful lunacy.

That's how "Profane Fetmilch Lenzt Elf Krank" looks like. After this EP the new era will start for Bethlehem, symbolically with the change of the millenniums. The band itself will change. Again. But this time to an unrecognizable state. Anyway, the characteristic insanity always remains with this formation. And this EP contains it in huge amounts, that's why it's so damn good.

Ever a fascination of mine, the German band Bethlehem have evolved from one of the most sinister blackened doom metal sounds in existence to a unique goth/black metal hybrid. These days, they tend more towards the former, but in 1999 they were still straddling the two styles together, and Profane Fetmilch Lenzt Elf Krank is an excellent example of where they truly shined.

The EP consists of only two tracks. "Gar Albern Es Uns Totgeban" begins with their patented, deep gothic leads over tortured vocal madness. But this breaks away into creepy pianos and spoken word, and then carnival music...before returning to the powerful riffing of the intro. "Von Buttersüssem Suizid" starts off simply with drums and a grooving gothic bass, then a sort of driving, gothic anthem with some metal wailing guitars. Both of the tunes are catchy, like most of Bethlehem's material.

This EP was originally pressed as a 7" in 1999 but an mCD version became available the following year. Most of the band's material is of good quality, and this is no exception. Well worth tracking down especially if you are fond of good gothic metal or this particular band's mid-period like the Reflektionen auf's Sterben EP and S.U.I.Z.I.D. album.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Pretty good release from Bethlehem. Though this release is not as extreme as older Bethlehem, it is definately going to appeal to all fans of the band.

Gar albern es uns totgebar - This song is just creepy. Typical of Bethlehem. It starts out with some sort of strange 80's sounding guitar, but quickly gets interesting. Then it goes to some strange old circus like sounding thing. It's very wierd. Then it cuts to a doomy part, and goes into newer bethlehem sounding german ramble. Decent song, nonetheless.

Von Bittersüssem Suizid - This song starts of with a punkish sounding drum, and some generally heavy bass. Then it has some german rambling in a transitor radio sounding instance. I don't particularly find anything appealing about this song, or any newer bethlehem, but if you are in fact a fan of newer bethlehem albums, this song may hold interest for you.

Buy if you come across it, but don't go out of your way.