I actually could write the same to Rebirth as I did about the predecessor Witchcraft: diversified metal with many ideas, little surprises and gimmicks; melodious and powerful, romantic and mawkish yet energetic and not even shrinking from a jaunt into gentle Death Metal fields. And the best: almost everything harmonizes, every tone spreads the delight to play Stephan Schenkel and his guitar player Philipp Deschermeier would like to express.

TIMEMAGE IS Stephan Schenkel, from the first note to the final production. He sings, plays keyboards and on Rebirth he plays all instruments expect for Deschermeier’s guitar. But he never lapses into an overdone ego trip and wants to prove how great he can master his stuff. Schenkel plays to benefit the songs. He in fact gives much room to his keyboards but does not limit the guitar play. That way also Rebirth knows how to please as a crosser with taste and flair for melodies, breaks, hymns and edgy parts. Rebirth is made for the open-minded listener of heavy Metal with gusto for complex structures as well as for friends of progressive sounds that are not afraid of powerful heaviness.

Rebirth is the 9th record for TIMEMAGE and with Black Invocation number 10 is already raring to go. Philipp Deschermeier meanwhile quit the band due to lack of time. He got replaced by bassist Thomas Peters and rejoining guitarist Florian Klein. So the project keeps on running and that is a good thing as TIMEMAGE even allows cynics to believe in the good in people.

When Stephan Schenkel announces - despite of all the emotional discussions about copyrights - that he just want to do music for the music’s sake, music he likes and wants to find willing listeners, then we believe and approve him without any doubt in the light of such productions. TIMEMAGE offer their entire (!) releases as free download on their website. All I can say is: use this chance! Download and check out the music, donate or buy available CDs for a song directly from the band. It’s worth it!

Rebirth suffers, even more than Witchcraft, from its home production. This one is in fact still highly notable and far beyond of semi-professionalism or even amateurishness but the music of TIMEMAGE needs resonant and clean sound, the possibility to unfold technically too. The tinny sounding drums, the washed-out sound of the other instruments only leave an impression what TIMEMAGE could sound like.
So please show some consideration give some money to Mr. Schenkel, let him win the lottery, whatever, to make the technical realization living up to its musical demand.

Apart from that - as ever: highly recommended!