Umbra et Imago:

This was our second time getting to see these guys live here at the Wave Gotik Treffen. Two years prior they were the headlining act on the very last night of the festival.

With a surprise appearance by Tanzwut to close out the second encore it was definitely a show to remember and so with great enthusiasm we attended their show in 2003.

This time around, they were part of the opening-night Gala and so we wouldn't have to sit the entire festival in anticipation of what Mozart and Lutz would have up their sleeves.

Mozart has a tradition of opening each album and live performance with some type of intro that more often than not resembles some sort of dark incantation to open a meeting of a witch coven or some other dark order. He also has a tradition of utilizing scantily clad women in provocative situations to accompany his costumes and music.

In both cases he stuck true to tradition and in addition to the devices used on previous tours (see our 2001 coverage for details and photos) he had some interesting additions such as women coming out with large burning candles as if in some ancient burial or mystic procession.

Later two of these women reappeared with large tomes like spell-books open to certain passages. At one point both of the spell tomes began emitting plumes of dark sulfuric smoke that filled the stage and the surrounding area.

A large screen displayed images including backdrops of fire and symbolry lending emphasis to the appropriate songs.

In the two years between viewing the band live they had put out a number of CD releases including "Dunkel Energie", the newest full-length and a full-length under their side-project Dracul entitled "Follow Me" so we were anxious for new material.

The set consisted of a lot of old favorites and could definitely been a bit heavier on the "Dunkel Energie" tracks for me personally (and no Dracul tracks), but the favorites are so for a reason so it was still fun.

All in all, it was a great way to start off the festival this year and put us in a great mood for the days ahead. Mozart always has great merchandise so we stocked up on goodies before we went home to bed.

Click on Mozart above for more coverage of

Umbra et Imago

at the

2003 Wave Gotik Treffen