Year: 2025
Label: self-released

With a name like this, there’s really only one genre Austrian Aufbruch Europa could play. And yes indeed, it is neofolk. No prizes for anyone who bet their money on that.

It’s not like there’s exactly an overabundance of neofolk these days. It’s a more active genre than martial industrial, that’s true, but traditional neofolk is still not a field (of sorrow, as it were, ha!) where you come across new artists every day. So we welcome any budding artists who try their hand at it!

Essentially, especially as far as atmosphere goes, debut album Shining Hearts On Fields Of Sorrow is very much traditional neofolk. Melancholy moods dominate, with songs of tradition, pain of loss and a defiant gaze to the future. Definitely standard fare.

But musically, quite refreshingly, Aufbruch Europa dare to expand beyond the rudimentary acoustic guitar and windchimes recipe of cookie cutter neofolk. Electric guitar is in a very prominent role on this album. It’s sharp, shrill tone gives the album a definite post punk vibe, which instantly gives Aufbruch Europa a bit of unique character.

Still, it’s pretty easy to find parallels from the neofolk scene. I am very strongly reminded of newer Darkwood, who also have incidentally experimented with more rock instrumentation on newer albums. But it’s in particular the vocals, which have a slight German speaking note to them, and otherwise too are of a similar timbre, that remind me of the German legend. Well, except that Aufbruch Europa’s twin vocals are a lot more rough around the edges than Henryk Vogel’s.

Read the above as praise. I mean, Darkwood are one of the best, so comparisons to them are a compliment. And, honestly, if you don’t hear more than a bit of Darkwood in something like album opener Rebellious In Our Hearts, in its combination of acoustic guitar and rock drums… well, methinks you haven’t heard Darkwood.

Overall, Shining Hearts On Fields Of Sorrow finds a functioning balance between familiarity and originality. On the one hand, a lot of the album is cozily familiar to fans of neofolk, making it easy to get into. On the other, the electric guitars add a less common element, providing some moments of genuine surprise. Aufbruch Europa can get quite “rock” when they want to, such as on Walking Towards Wodens Hall.

The one thing that betrays the young age of the act is that some of the songs are somewhat less inspired. All are functional and listenable, but the “hits” are easy to separate from the rest. Aforementioned Rebellious In Our Hearts, Blood Fire Earth with its catchy chorus and album closer Looking For The Sun are the cream of the crop.

But, really, that’s not even a gripe. These are the really good songs, the rest are perfectly serviceable but not quite as prominent. And three memorable tracks on an album is no mean feat. Which means the simple bottom line is: this is a good album. If you’re into neofolk, do yourself a service and check it out.

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