Laudare (Requiem)

Jan 154 min read

Released: 2024

Genre: Post-metal, Black metal, Post-rock

Sounds Like: Amenra, Alcest, Julie Christmas

Homeland: Germany

What makes Requiem elite and sit atop OHMs Peak?

Requiem is a masterful work of art that skillfully combines elements of Post-metal, Black metal, and Post-rock.
Marie-Luise Thurm's vocals are incredibly original and heartfelt. They uniquely blend desperation, angst, and softness.
The production is crisp and powerful, with each instrument finding its own space to shine.
Laudare are carving their own niche in the Post-metal scene. It will be fascinating to see their future direction.

Track Listing: 1. Introitus 3:40 2. Dies Irae 5:30 3. Quid Sum Miser 3:11 4. Rex Tremendae 3:33 5. Quaerens Me 4:08 6. Lacrimosa 5:207. 7. Offertorium 4:43 8. Hostias 2:33 9. Sanctus 9:11 10. Agnus Dei 4:18

Dive deeper into Requiem with our Q&A with Laudare.

OHMs Peak: Requiem feels like a concept album where in the listener is immersed into this elaborate uncharted landscape. We would love to know more about the underlying theme within Requiem.

Luise: Requiem is based on the liturgical Requiem Mass, the mass for the dead. We took the Latin texts and translated the religious theme into our own secular musical language. We were interested in what would remain and still found it to be a deeply touching experience about death, grief and hope.

OHMs Peak: Every track is so different yet they tie back to the story that unfolds. There is not a flaw on this album and frankly each track stands out to us, but we’re just gonna randomly pick one of the heavier tracks here and ask you to shed some light on the heavy passion that is ‘Quaerens Me’

Daniel: Back in the day songwriting for Laudare took place on the guitar almost exclusively. And I think that song in particular is very much guitar driven. I can still remember how I sat at the kitchen table coming up with pretty much all the parts for the song on my acoustic guitar in that Session I've had with myself. Guitar wise it combines so many different styles I like to play. The beginning could be considered funky even with all that ghost notes. Then there is this long Tremolo- Blast- Beat- Section. It's all stuff I really enjoy playing. I think you can say it's a lot of different ideas put into a bucket and stirred uncompromisingly. Usually Luise and me would sit down together arranging the song with the vocals afterwards. No magic, just trying and erroring. Haha.

OHMs Peak: What was Laudare’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special?

Luise: For me personally it was in June this year, when we played at Fusion Festival. The festival is huge and it was a honour for me, to be able to play there. The stage we played at is curated by some old friends of mine, so being there also felt like some kind of "family gathering“. Also we played an hour, which is a pretty long set for Laudare and we played some songs, we wouldn’t play live usually. And the third reason that it was a special gig, is that it was Ollis last show with us. We had been playing together for six years and two months earlier he told us about his decision to leave the band. So, we were also really eager to make this a special day.

OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound?

Daniel: Picking up a spade, taking it to Vienna and start digging. Let's see what's left of Beethoven. He also is in the fortunate position of not having to hear the same set every night.

OHMs Peak: The gothic album artwork absolutely pulls us in and so fits the aura of Requiem. We see that Marie-Luise Thurm put this together. Would love to hear more about the selection process for this album art.

Luise: Thank you very much. 🙂 Since it’s me creating all of our artworks myself, it’s mostly my own personal process. Usually I’d get into the mood of random inspiration from time to time and then start to prepare a cover art - sometimes with a particular project in mind, sometimes just for fun and then I keep it for the future. Because it took us over three years to finish and finally release Requiem, there were multiple drafts and ideas and I tried different approaches. In the end, the drawing of the seraph that’s now forming the center of the artwork was an ink drawing I created for last years Inktober challenge. I found it really fitting to the theme of Requiem - and another funny side fact: in the bible, it’s the seraphim singing to each other "Sanctus, Sanctus, Deus Sabaoth“ - which is the text of "Sanctus," the second last song album.

OHMs Peak: How did the name Laudare come to form and what’s the meaning/background?

Luise: Laudare is also Latin and it means "to praise“. When we first came together as a band we surely needed to find a name. We exchanged ideas and discussed different options. One day, Daniel had a revelation to not focus on meaning too much, but more on melody and sound. The word Laudare is catchy, sounds beautiful and has a beautiful melody to it, so we stuck with that.

OHMs Peak: Laudare is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to?

Probably, we’d go for Witchy Activities and Maple Death by Monica Roscher Bigband..

Laudare are:

Almut Voigt – Cello, Vocals

Daniel Kaltofen – Piano, Guitar, Arrangements, Vocals

Marie-Luise Thurm – Bass, Vocals, Screaming

Follow Laudare: Bandcamp / Facebook / violentpoetry.com