Mandrake - Biography
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2003-
Biography
The German Band "Mandrake" was brought to life by Lutz de Putter in the wastelands of northern Germany ("Ostfriesland") in early 1997. After the demo recording of "Mandragora Offizialis", the self-produced album "Forever" was recorded in 1998, presenting the band as a mixture of slow death-metal and elements of the gothic-scene. Female vocals were rare and sung by a guest-vocalist. 1999 Birgit Lau joined the band and her part became bigger and bigger.
In 2002, Lutz de Putter left the lineup, taking the band's name Mandrake with him, and soon after formed an entirely different lineup. After several demos, including the promomaxi called "Entwine," in 2003, Mandrake signed a contract with the label Greyfall/Prophecy Productions.
The label-debut "Calm The Seas" was released at the end of 2003. For the first time, this record presents the current line-up with Garvin Bösch on bass-guitar and Jörg Uken on drums. Live-keyboarder Julius Martinek also became a full member, but soon prefered electric guitars.
The music of Mandrake is voluptuous, sometimes epic, sometimes fragile, supported by "real" strings, low guitars and powered by pounding drums. Above all, the significant voice of Birgit. Lyrics and music often deal with the forces of nature, especially water, and the desire to reach distant shores and galaxies.
On stage, the musicians of "Mandrake" represent themselves as a tight soundwall with heart and brains.
The term mandrake (mandragora) is taken from a poisonous plant which is a symbol for spiritual and supernatural powers.
The album "The Balance of Blue" was released on March, 14, 2005, along with contributions to samplers (Orkus, Legacy a. o.). The song "Soaked Through The Skylight" was also featured on the DVD of the WGT in Leipzig 2004.
2007 saw their third album "Mary Celeste" released, a concept album about one of the biggest maritime mysteries in that of the discovery of the brigantine ship Mary Celeste in 1872, abandoned for unexplained reasons.
2010 we see the release of "Innocence Weakness," now with Holger Bloempott on drums.
In 2002, Lutz de Putter left the lineup, taking the band's name Mandrake with him, and soon after formed an entirely different lineup. After several demos, including the promomaxi called "Entwine," in 2003, Mandrake signed a contract with the label Greyfall/Prophecy Productions.
The label-debut "Calm The Seas" was released at the end of 2003. For the first time, this record presents the current line-up with Garvin Bösch on bass-guitar and Jörg Uken on drums. Live-keyboarder Julius Martinek also became a full member, but soon prefered electric guitars.
The music of Mandrake is voluptuous, sometimes epic, sometimes fragile, supported by "real" strings, low guitars and powered by pounding drums. Above all, the significant voice of Birgit. Lyrics and music often deal with the forces of nature, especially water, and the desire to reach distant shores and galaxies.
On stage, the musicians of "Mandrake" represent themselves as a tight soundwall with heart and brains.
The term mandrake (mandragora) is taken from a poisonous plant which is a symbol for spiritual and supernatural powers.
The album "The Balance of Blue" was released on March, 14, 2005, along with contributions to samplers (Orkus, Legacy a. o.). The song "Soaked Through The Skylight" was also featured on the DVD of the WGT in Leipzig 2004.
2007 saw their third album "Mary Celeste" released, a concept album about one of the biggest maritime mysteries in that of the discovery of the brigantine ship Mary Celeste in 1872, abandoned for unexplained reasons.
2010 we see the release of "Innocence Weakness," now with Holger Bloempott on drums.