L’ÂME IMMORTELLE
10 years of songs from the ruins of our dreams

When a band in the short-lived music business is able to look back on 10 successful years it has either achieved to create a unique style of music or to reinvent itself over and over.

Interestingly enough, in the career of Sonja Kraushofer and Thomas Rainer, both of these success formulas have played a role. Starting with their 1997 debut album, “Lieder die wie Wunden bluten”, the two Austrians (back then also with Hannes Medwenitsch, who left the band after the 2002 album, “Als die Liebe starb”) consistently used their cold electronic sound and sensitive lyrics to perfectly embody the melancholy and sensibility of the gothic scene. And with Life Will Never Be The Same, L’ÂME IMMORTELLE additionally scored an irresistible hymn back then that has become a goth classic.

With the debut’s follow-up, … in einer Zukunft aus Tränen und Stahl the band refined their concept, nailing the gothic zeitgeist with their combination of angrily throbbing industrial escapades and emotional electro ballads. “Bitterkeit” dominates the playlists of german and international clubs ever since, making it clear early on that L’ÂME IMMORTELLE are excellent songwriters recognized beyond the borders of their own scene.

After this very hard, unforgiving work, L’ÂME IMMORTELLE refocused with Wenn der letzte Schatten fällt (1999) and the two hits Gefallen and Stern on the quieter, introspective aspect of their musical soul, giving a more atmospheric character to their previously raw electro sound.

In 2001, L’ÂME IMMORTELLE further expanded their musical boundaries by adding more classical instruments to the sound of the album, Dann habe ich umsonst gelebt. This classical touch is meanwhile an integral component of the band concept.

“When we wanted to do an Industrial song, we did it and when we were into writing a ballad, that’s what we did. I think a lot of bands restrict themselves to a certain style of music thinking ‘We’ve got a following now, so there are some things we just can’t do’. They are to afraid to loose their fans and their reputation by developing their style
L’ÂME IMMORTELLE however has always been an open concept and through this we are able to bring in new elements all the time and do exactly what we feel is necessary at the very moment a song is written”
This statement by Singer/Songwriter Thomas Rainer clearly defined that there will only be one constant in the bands history – change.

Als die Liebe starb is a true synthesis of all arts where music, artwork and lyrics form a unity telling the story of Thomas’ broken heart after being left by his girlfriend after 5 years.
Produced by John A. Rivers (Dead can dance) this album showcases the whole spectrum of L’ÂME IMMORTELLEs music: epic ballads, industrial dancefloor anthems and classical pieces.

2003 the band signed with a major label (GUN Records / SonyBMG) and scored their biggest hit up to date (german billboard charts No. 6) with Brennende Liebe recorded together with label mates OOMPH! . This brought attention to the band from beyond the realms of the goth scene alone, and the album that followed, Gezeiten (2004), with helping hands lent by acclaimed producers John A. Rivers (Dead Can Dance) and Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Paradise Lost), presented the band in a rock-oriented, more expressive light than ever before, as evidenced by the hit singles 5 Jahre, Stumme Schreie and Fallen Angel.

L’ÂME IMMORTELLE then went on to deliver their ‘Magnum Opus’ last year with the Auf deinen Schwingen album. This concept album, elaborately built around the intertwined, contradictory aspects of love won and lost focuses on desire, longing and desperation depicted with a corresponding musical diversity in gripping tracks like Nur du, Phönix and Du siehst mich nicht extending the bands sound with orchestra, heavy guitars and a show off of electronic mayhem.

After successfully touring europe for the 8th time in December 2006 there is lot more to be expected from L’ÂME IMMORTELLE. Without making cuts to their successful formula, without compromises, without losing sight of their objectives: a radiant star in the music sky which sparkles in the dark.