- Black vinyl version on Gatefold Double LP.
- First Repress (+Bonustrack).
- Track D2 is exclusive bonus track.
Patiently taking two years to perfect the songwriting, Ellende's third full-length (and fifth release overall), Lebensnehmer is now finished. Featuring live musician P.F. on drums like on previous records, Lebensnehmer vividly displays all the sturm und drang of the trademark Ellende sound, now more breathtaking than ever. Taking a more adventurous approach to dynamics as well as exhibiting a clarity of focus previously untouched, Lebensnehmer moves like a literal emotional rollercoaster - hitting the highest of highs, and especially the lowest of lows - spellbinding the listener at every skyscraping turn. As ever, the stirring melodicism of L.G. takes center stage, weaving emotive ecstasy even while a torrent of blastbeats from P.F. booms all around here. Elsewhere, suitably splendorous atmosphere is evoked through frequent stretched-out instrumental passages, allowing both drama and tension to wage war within the listener's heart and head. And of course, only the most sterling production standards were sought by L.G, with recording & mixing at Audioriotrecordings Austria and mastering by Iguana Studios Germany.
As the mainman enthuses, "I am truly grateful how this record turned out. As the title already implies, Lebensnehmer - or 'life taker,' in English - has a very strong connotation coming about two years after its sister album Todbringer, which is 'death bringer' in English. Going through rough times, it fills me with a sense of well-being when another selection of music has been made into a full-length result of anger, melancholy, and beauty. Being surrounded by very gifted musicians and sound engineers, you can expect another milestone from Ellende."