The Moshville Times - German dark metal duo Roth drop new album ‘Alles Endet’

If you’re looking for something to rattle the windows and unsettle the neighbours, you’re in luck. German dark metal outfit Roth officially unleashed their second album, Alles Endet, yesterday via Massacre Records (listening links!). It’s been four years since their debut, Nachtgebete, made waves, and mastermind Quentin Roth hasn’t spent that time sitting on his hands. He’s taken the “DIY” approach to the extreme here, handling every single composition, lyric, and instrument himself.

He didn’t stop at the performance, either. Quentin took over the production and mixing duties at Panic Room Studios, resulting in a sound that’s cold, heavy, and properly modern. To make sure the record hits like a sledgehammer, they brought in the legendary Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E to handle the mastering. The result is a beast of a record that sits somewhere between the crushing rhythms of Neue Deutsche Härte and a grim, gothic atmosphere that’ll please fans of Eisregen.

Speaking of Eisregen, the unmistakable vocals of Quentin’s father, M. Roth, are once again the heart of the narrative. His delivery brings a real sense of menace to tracks like “Zahle den Preis” and “Leiche im Schrank”. For the fans who’ve been asking, the special 2CD Mediabook edition actually features Quentin himself stepping up to the mic for four exclusive bonus tracks. There’s also some guest lead guitar work from Cedric Roß scattered throughout to add a bit of extra bite to the riffs.

Visually, the whole package is tied together with some properly moody artwork from Svartir Andar Graphix, capturing that vibe of decay and fatalism that runs through the twelve main tracks. Whether you’re a long-time follower of the German scene or just fancy something dark and uncompromising to soundtrack your weekend, Alles Endet is well worth a spin. It’s a bold step forward for the duo and proves they’ve got plenty more stories to tell.