D'ARTAGNAN | ZMF Freiburg

In the organizer's words:

Folk rockers d'Artagnan have struck gold with "Herzblut". The Franconians' sixth studio album is a treasure chest filled to the brim with hits, in which musical precious metal glitters enticingly. Every ballad, anthem, dance tune and headbanger proves to be a diamond.

As easily as the Nurembergers deliver one catchy tune after another on "Herzblut", writing hits seems like the easiest thing in the world. But the truth is that it is a fine art, and many dream ships have been wrecked on its cliffs.

How does d'Artagnan manage to navigate all the musical shoals so successfully? Firstly, through years of experience. Although the group was only founded in 2015, band leader, singer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Metzner had long since earned his spurs with chart-toppers Feuerschwanz. No school teaches better what a good song is all about than live performances at festivals and on tours - which have taken Ben and his comrades-in-arms from clubs, to often sold-out halls, and now occasionally even to arenas.

This is associated with the great craftsmanship that characterizes d'Artagnan - both on stage and in the rehearsal room as well as in the studio. The Franconians have achieved a perfect balance between electric instruments and acoustics, as for example bouzouki, a devilish fiddle, tin whistle and the queen of bagpipes, the uilleann pipes, are used with pinpoint accuracy.

Equally important is their clever lyrical content. Of course, d'Artagnan play joyfully for dancing and their songs always invite you to celebrate. But without any preachy undertones or raised index fingers, the South Germans also offer a journey into the age of the musketeers. Their open-minded view extends far beyond the boundaries of Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Three Musketeers", which has been adapted into several films. On "Herzblut", d'Artagnan pays a lively visit to the Breton "King of the Corsairs", Robert Surcouf, and the epic "Mosqueteros" puts the Spanish musketeers in the spotlight for the first time. Rafa Blas, the new singer of Spanish metal legend Mägo de Oz, makes a fitting appearance on the latter song - one of the traditionally exciting guest appearances on the new album.

For example, the hard-rocking title track "Herzblut", with lyrics based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem "Was wird mir jede Stunde so bang?", features the beautiful mezzo-soprano of Ad Infinitum frontwoman Melissa Bonny.

Of course, "Herzblut" is also full of real hits: "Klingen Kreuzen" and "Rollt rein" are guaranteed to set the cups ringing, and not just among the cloak-and-dagger faction. "Rosenrot" and, despite its title, "Freudenhaus" can be understood as a gallant bow to the ladies, subtly questioning male manners and behavior in an undertone. On the other hand, a closer listen to "Coeur de la mer" reveals another musical influence on "Herzblut": the cinematic character of many songs is no coincidence, as Die Franken have clearly been inspired by such giants of film music as Ennio Morricone and Hans Zimmer.

On "Herzblut", d'Artagnan once again dance at many weddings and feel just as at home at medieval festivals as they do at the Wacken Open Air. It is probably this openness that gives the album its enormous hit potential. With "Herzblut", d'Artagnan seize their hard-won musical freedom with all hands and unite to lift a sparkling treasure!

Price information:

Standing room concert