Gothminister returns with a simple observation: We are all Demons.
For this new album, Bjørn Alexander “Gothminister” Brem (vocals) has teamed up with Icarus and Nikolas Eckstein on guitars, Jona Morte on drums, as well as The Orchard and Elevator Records.
Darkest Side of Earth gives us a few seconds of respite before sweeping us away on its wave of heady Industrial tones, then welcoming Gothminister’s distinctive voice, supported by backing vocals as well as majestic keyboards that contrast with the more energetic tones of the guitars. Various effects emerge, but the sound eventually takes on a touch of melancholy before transitioning into the eponymous, danceable We Are All Demons, which features a very upbeat tone and could easily be played in nightclubs around the world, even offering a hint of Power Metal in its chorus. The shift in atmosphere is stark for Nightmare King, a much heavier and more frightening track despite its catchy elements typical of the genre, creating a strange yet intoxicating blend before The Dark offers a colder sound complemented by a female vocalist who takes the lead and then forms an excellent duet with the male vocalist. Back to Electro sounds on The Spell, a track where the lead singer is occasionally accompanied by backing vocals, as well as jagged riffs that make the whole thing extremely catchy and at times surprising, especially when he’s joined by Thomas Jenssen (who was his competitor in the Norwegian Eurovision 2024 selection). We pick up the pace again with the dark Welcome to Hell, which evokes the raw sound of his old, highly effective compositions, then the artist treats us to another whimsical track with Salsa, a song that, as its name suggests, offers intoxicating and joyful melodies, in stark contrast to its defeatist lyrics. Go back to menacing Industrial sounds with My Revenge, a track where the vocalist lets loose while his musicians provide an energetic foundation, allowing the keyboards to offer slightly more aggressive tones, much like on Darkness Is My Throne, which immediately takes over and maintains sonic consistency with a heavy atmosphere right through to the end. A brief moment of respite kicks off Fearless, a composition that introduces strings against a fairly simple yet majestic backdrop; these strings continue to appear, supporting the message filled with hope, before giving way to There’s a Crown for All, a grandiose instrumental outro that brings the album to a stunning close.
While staying true to its Industrial roots, Gothminister explores even more musical territories on We Are All Demons. This album has it all: dark tracks, upbeat ones, but above all, the soul of its creator!
80/100
