Singing primarily in German, though often adding Latin into the mix, and ocassionally even Spanish, E Nomine tops my chart as one of the best groups in existence. They don't really have a steady line of members that can be named, except the standard vocalist in concerts, but nonetheless their music is inspiring and awesome.

Despite the fact I am not Christian, I thoroughly enjoy the biblical and mythical references found in their lyrics (when translated into English; I can't read German at all.) The language use itself causes the music to be more powerful, however (we all know German is a good language to go with blood-pumping tunes, and Latin is good for mellow choruses.)

I can spot, quite literally, almost no flaw in their music at all. They can work your adrenaline or work your imagination any way they please. The beautiful use of chorus behind the masculine vocals softens and balances the music, as well as the chanting itself.

Das Testament probably uses the most religious references (much of it is prayer or direct quotes from the bible in German and Latin), while Finsternis is much darker (referencing to vampires, werewolves, et cetera.) Das Prophezeiung is really a mix between the two, in the sense that I can really separate the albums as 'light,' 'dark,' and 'grey' (in the order I've mentioned them.) It uses the mention of God (a lot), but instead of using prayers and quotations directly from the bible, it tends to examine instead the prophecies (which aren't exactly sunshine, are they?) Overall I like the balance they've put in the albums they've released, and the clean separation of material to keep a theme for each one, while still they tie together in some way.

Aside from listening to E Nomine's music, simply reading over their lyrics is inspiring. It's beautifully poetic in style, which makes the music do what music is supposed to do: the instruments are to amplify the tone of the words, not to make the entire song. They execute this wonderfully, in a choral-trance-techno sort of way.

If you don't at least try them, you're missing out.

For me it stands that Coheed and Cambria only get better with each album they release. The difference in their sound between their EP (which serves as a temporary basis for the story) and this last album (which is split off but still relevant to the story) is drastic. What I like about this most of all is that it pauses to take a look into the mind of the Writer, who Claudio made to separate the character's suffering from his own. The opening instrumental was inspiring, and the way the songs flowed from one to the next was wonderful. Sometimes I couldn't tell that the songs had switched, which means my train of thought while following the story was not interrupted. I'm anxiously waiting for the next one already, knowing that the wait will be worth it. They easily manipulate the music and the tone so that you feel what the Writer is feeling, which makes it overall very inspiring.

When I first listened to Coheed and Cambria (introduced to them by my fiance), I wasn't too sure. I suppose I didn't get the complexity of their music, or I was too far lost in the heavier stuff to notice the artistry with which they executed their work. I very soon realized that this band had something that was absolutely different than anything I'd listened to in my life.

The first thing that caught me was the music. As I went through their albums when they came out, I noticed that the feel of the music itself could easily sway my emotion. This was all and well, many bands can do that--music supports the mood of the lyrics. So the lyrics were the next thing I looked at. They were amazing. Though I still had no idea the depth to which they reached, the poetic feel was enough to drag me in. My favorite song is on their second album, "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth" (the song shares a title with the album), which had me hooked with the first few lines. But you can't play favorites that much with Coheed and Cambria's songs, because they are nothing without the ones that come before and after them--they make up a story. So that is the last thing I looked at.

When I actually got the story to go with the lyrics, I found that the they changed to me and only became deeper and more easy to relate to. The choice to kill your children or face Armageddon, the avenging of a family's death, the realization that your judgements are not always right... You can feel for the story and the characters--Claudio, Ambellina, the Writer--while you listen to the music.

Even if you don't pay attention to the story (though you really, really should), the lyrics taken separately per song can be very touching and one can relate to them on their own emotional level (i.e.: "your father's dead, he passed in his sleep. Pray for us all, pray for us all"-- lines from 'The Light and the Glass', seriously touched me as a person because of the death of my father, in that same manner.) It only shows that the characters' struggles are no different in concept than yours or mine, on a much greater scale.

As far as Claudio's voice goes, I always feel like the character Claudio is talking when he sings, and it only serves to make the songs more powerful.

I highly, highly recommend this group.

When I first listened to this album, I was rather caught by the song "Rosenrot." I found that it examined the sacrifices made for love, within a relationship. It highly inspired me, both lyrically and musically. The way Spring was put together (how the chorus is sung, particularly) was very catching and brought through the lyrics very well. I was very impressed. There's a balance between the songs: Rosenrot, Wo Bist Du, Spring, Stirb Nicht Vor Mir are balanced out by the more powerful songs, like Benzin, Zerstoren, and Te Quiero Puta. It gives the album variety, while (to me) keeping the theme intact-- the depth at which the lyrics reach does not change.

The only "cons" of the album to me are that it wasn't longer (I can wish, can't I?) And that I absolutely abhor the Spanish language, which sort of ruined the music of Te Quiero Puta for me, with the lyrics.