It may have taken “only” twenty-five years for Scheitan’s fourth album, “Songs for the Gothic People“, to arrive after their third, yet their return was so strikingly powerful that the follow-up, their fifth offering, “Wine for a Tormented Soul”, came without delay, like a storm that refused to be held back.

We won’t say too much about this new record for two good reasons.
First, three singles have already been released as videos, and by now, you’ve likely formed your own impressions of the new material.

Second, “Wine for a Tormented Soul” has become the unofficial (and unwavering) soundtrack to our days here at The Circle offices. For the past two months, it has echoed through our space daily, seeping into our bones. We were simply waiting for the right moment to announce the release date and that moment is now. What remains is the aching anticipation of holding this black masterpiece in our hands.

Musically, Scheitan remain faithful to the Gothic Rock path they paved with “Songs for the Gothic People“. The compositions here continue to battle one another for dominance, each track vying to be the one that leaves the deepest mark. The production is once again crystalline and forceful, but this time, it’s Pierre Törnkvist’s vocals that show remarkable evolution.

Remember these two song titles: “Döden är helt underbar” and “Every Little Thing” and mark our words: Τhey will haunt you.

“Every Little Thing” is steeped in emotional gravity, and it closes with a child’s voice that elevates the entire piece to something almost otherworldly in its beauty.

As for “Döden är helt underbar“, the vocals transcend. Pierre sings as if bidding farewell to the world, as if standing before a firing squad, leaving behind one last lament to echo into the void. A dirge, fragile and devastating.

And this is no exaggeration: songs like these are rare. When they do appear, they don’t just resonate, they haunt.

When asked whether inspired Gothic Rock still exists today, the answer is clear:
“Of course it does and Scheitan make sure we never forget it!”

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Pierre Törnkvist comment: