Band:	Samsas Traum
Album:	Anleitung Zum Totsein
Style:	Black metal, Gothic metal
Release date:	2011
A review by:	KwonVerge

Disc I
01. Was Danach Kommt: Spinnen
02. Das Ist Liebe
03. Ich Sehe Die Sterne Bei Tag
04. Das Vor Allen Spiegeln - Für Isabelle
05. Mein Versprechen
06. Durch Die Wand Der Träume
07. Den Wolken Näher
08. Im Zeichen Des Wurms
09. A - Wie "Antarktika"
10. Gott Hat Kein Gesicht
11. Betet Für Mich
12. Das Lächeln Eines Toten

Disc II [Limited Edition bonus CD]
01. Nicht Verwendetes Intro
02. Sequence
03. 13
04. Den Wolken Näher [Orchester-Version]
05. Im Zeichen Des Wurms [Schwarzer Engel Neuinterpretation]
06. Ich Sehe Die Sterne Bei Tag [Mantus Neuinterpretation]
07. Mein Versprechen [Featuring Maurizio Guarini from Goblin]
08. Betet Für Mich [Featuring Maurizio Guarini from Goblin]
09. Gott Hat Kein Gesicht [Featuring Maurizio Guarini from Goblin]

Deutsche Welle Part 1.

Samsas Traum has been one of gothic metal's best-kept secrets for nearly 15 years now. It's quite odd that many metalheads who pretty much enjoy atmospheric metal in general are not aware of this band's existence. Yet, Goths, dark-wavers and other like-minded listeners from the specific subculture are very familiar with Samsas Traum and have supported them throughout the years. Worth mentioning has to be the fact that since their debut work, Die Liebe Gottes - Eine Märchenhafte Black Metal Operette, they never remained static. Of course they were always gothic metal, but they tended to always blend their music with other genres like black metal, neoclassical, even approaching a more electronic/industrial or experimental edge.

With all this having been said, one could possibly refer to Samsas Traum as a gothic metal renaissance simply because as a band they have blended metal with the various faces/aspects of the gothic subculture without fear but with enormous passion that is none other than Alexander Kaschte's personal vision (the main figure behind this talented act). As a matter of fact, Alexander was always generous with his audience on every album, especially the limited editions which have welcome extras both in terms of many bonus compositions but also concerning several things related to the band.

In the beginning of July Samsas Traum returned with his tenth full-length to date, of course if we take into consideration the remix-album version of his fourth studio album. Two years after the more straight to your face 13 Jahre Lang Dagegen - Anti bis Zum Tod, the time was just right concerning its successor, Anleitung Zum Totsein, and to be honest, it's the first time the band adopts such a small title. So, how does the new release sound? If you're aware of his previous works then you already know that it feels like an amalgam of everything Samsas Traum has presented so far. If this is the first time you encounter this band then stick around. Well, not exactly the Arnold Schwarzenegger way but keep in mind that what you have to expect is gothic metal and the rest will unfold in a while.

So, Anleitung Zum Totsein, just like any other previous release, will appeal most to those who believe in the highly poetic essence and accent of the German language, so just in case you expected English, that, you won't find. Everything is here: the more rocking attitude of its predecessor with a welcome amount of highly inspired solos and more straight to your face ideas; slight but apparent electronics that appear whenever required; imposing or gentle keyboard melodies and fragile piano passages; black metal driven vocals; intense or more introvert singing; gothic rock chords; distorted riffing; powerful or more accompanying drumming; and throbbing bass lines. There are moments the dynamic vocals and the powerful essence of the floating keyboard tunes evoke a sense of grandeur, whereas you will witness enough moments infused with drama and creative ideas here and there.

Anleitung Zum Totsein appears in the shape of a 12-track normal edition, yet there's always the limited edition for fans and those who think "the more, the better" and the band offers a second disc of 9 bonus tracks that happen to be alternate versions of some album compositions plus some new ones. Of course the album takes its time to unfold and the compositions hold the strength to keep it spinning; it's the crystalline production though that designates its real beauty through the purity of sound for every instrument solely and all of them together in unity.

All you have to expect is 55 minutes (or 97 including the bonus disc) of solid gothic metal endorsed by polymorphism. Samsas Traum have nothing new to offer, at least at this very moment/album, yet they tend to present everything they've been throughout the years through the prism of Anleitung Zum Totsein. The audience of the band will welcome it for what it is, a sound pallet of the past at the present. As for those who are willing to discover the band with this very album may take 1-2 spins to start appreciating it, after that either they will love it and search for the past of the band or will just pass by and/or hopefully give a second chance to some of their previous releases. As for me, it's Teutonic gothic metal at its finest when it comes to a year so sterile concerning this genre.