QNTAL

Wave Gothic Treffen 14 2005

Park Buhne Leipzig, DE

QNTAL represent a pinnacle of a genre that seems to be sweeping through Europe and starting to get a foothold in North America as well.

They combine traditional instruments and songs taken from medieval texts and modernize them with the use of technological leaps such as synthasizers, samplers, and computer production techniques.

The founding members Michael Pop and Syrah are also involved in a similar project, Estampie but where the latter retains the traditional instruments solely and follows the more ancient song structures.

The first QNTAL album featured Deine Lakein's musical master-mind Ernst Horne and included the awesome "Ad Mortem Festinamus" or "Dance of Death" which became a huge dance floor hit and is a really powerful gothic anthem in that it illustrates the beauty in darkness.

Ernst left the band, eventually forming Helium Vola an ensemble based along the same lines, while new talent Philipp "Fil" Groth took over keyboard and production rolls on all subsequent albums.

We had seen Estampie here at the Treffen a few years back play the Krypta which was literally breath-taking but we up until now, had never had the chance to see QNTAL so we were very excited.

They played a daytime set at Park Buhne which is a great outdoor venue in Leipzig and really allows the band to be seen from anywhere in the moderate size amphitheatre and has really great sound as well.

They had a live drummer with them in the rear of the stage. Fil was off to the left behind a multi-tiered keyboard stand supporting his electronics and Michael Pop sat or stood, depending on which of the plethora of instruments he was playing, over to the right.

Syrah sang in the middle, occasionally picking up lutes and pipes for some songs. Her voice is really amazing and she is a talented artist of the caliber that could honestly travel the globe in some sort of professional opera or classical music troupe and I think it is amazing that she focuses on such a cool underground project with a unique mentality and sound.

Michael Popp is a master of the medieval instrument and switches back and forth from a selection of stringed instruments, occasionally picking up a modern guitar as well.

Some of the best moments are when Fil and Michael join Syrah in singing and all three voices raise to a crescendo that really gets the blood pumping and makes the little hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

Of course my favorite song of the set was the aforementioned "Ad Mortem Festinamus". After hearing it on CD and in clubs for so many years it was so powerful and well done live, it was all I could hope for.

We had run into Michael and Syrah at a special signing the day before and they said to come backstage afterwards and say high so we gladdly obliged and let them know in person how fantastic their live performance was and what a moving and powerful ensemble they were.

They both are extremely gracious and while aware of their talents they are really down to earth and in no way egotistical or aloof.

The Treffen is the greatest place on earth to get to experience the best bands in the world and be able to meet like minded fans as well as the artists themselves.

QNTAL are simply amazing live and really something unique.

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