Clearly, Bloodflowerz is a little different. Yes, there is the beautiful female voice fronting a strong metal band with the more less typical gothic lyrical statement. But categorizing them is a little bit of a leap in faith. Think Elvis Costello type music (with the band looking the part) and an "I Dream of Jeanie" lead singer, well, a very dark, gothic Jeanie, that is. Of course, the band is a little heavier than ol’ Elvis but, there is that component. However, there is more of a Pop component to the sound than what you would find in many of the bands available from this site.

The band itself is a quartet: Jogi Laser – Guitar, Jan Beckmann – Bass, Tim Schwarz – Drums and Kirsten Zahn – Vocals. But these four put out some serious sound. No orchestration here, no keyboard based synthesizer. Just hard driving metal, although some interesting electronics and programming do augment the sound throughout. And, certain tracks are augmented with secondary instrumentation when deemed appropriate to the lyrics. It should be noted that production, recording, engineering, mixing and mastering were done by Alexander Krull who seems to have a hand in a lot of the music available here. He is, of course, the husband of Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull and performs with several bands while not producing others. His sound has some consistency to it, especially in terms of overall quality and that quality shows through here.

The group makes a real attempt to discuss the music in terms of the poetry that serves as the basis for that music. "Real art is a bleeding, pulsing piece of the artists soul," says singer Zahn. That being the case, a short perusal of that poetry might prove illuminating.

Sajida's Song, the opening number, is a classic rock song, hard driving, strong vocals with an interesting background. But, it is rock at it’s core, at least in the musical sense. The lyrics, however, tell a slightly different tale. Zahn sings:

My virgin dreams are gone

I try to find someone

Who tells me

What's love

Why there is no wonderland

Why lovers try to pretend

To love you

Tell me what is love

The second song, Damaged Promises, takes it down a notch. But not for long, the instrumental components are electronically manipulated, as they often are in this package. However, they are strong components, strong guitar riffs, a very strong drum line and the multifaceted voice of Zahn who moves easily from hard core to soft and sexy, and back again.

But, again, as the band suggests, it is the poem that drives the music.

Maybe love is the same as hate

Maybe pain gonna be our fate

I have to change my tears

(damaged promises)

For something to believe in

Love is a fight

Seems we're losing it tonight

One touch

One kiss

This could be the last

It went away to fast

Maybe love...

Our difference dug the grave

To bury damaged promises

One day it was too late

You love to hate me and I love to hate you

Maybe love...

The going can get slower at times. In Illusionary Fields, the band turns to a more soothing approach, again focusing on the guitars, but with a lighter tone and a quieter vocal component. This is, technically, a very strong number with the trademark Krull overlays. Zahn sings:

Sometimes beauty's a beast

And like a whore on duty she simulates

Paradise in a land of lies

Sometimes too blind to see

That love and lust don't agree

We adore this whore and turn to fantasy

We found heaven we found hell...

The production progresses through a 12 song set that is interesting in its diversity but especially strong on the dark lyrics. An interesting rock album, not in the tradition of many of the offerings from this site, but of interest to those somewhat more comfortable with the industrial / pop sound.

Bloodflowerz presents a range of sounds but holds to a more basic rock n roll format. Heavy on the guitar over a pounding drum line with the dark poetry covered by a strong female voice. It’s different from much of what is found here, but enjoyable, nonetheless. Just don’t look for the opera or the symphony orchestra; you’re here for the lyrics.