GOTHMINISTER – We Are All Demons

There are bands that merely play dark music, and then there are bands that seem to have made darkness their natural habitat. and without doubt, Gothminister belongs firmly in the latter category. With We Are All Demons, the Norwegian outfit continues its long-running marriage of gothic atmosphere, industrial electronics, metal riffs and theatrical bombast, delivering an album that feels tailor-made for those who prefer their darkness with a massive chorus attached. And it gets to be released just in time for the darkest and spookiest time of the year too.

From the opening moments, it is obvious that subtlety isn’t the main objective here, as synths loom over muscular guitars, electronic textures add a sinister pulse while the ommanding vocals give the songs their characteristic theatrical edge. The result is the familiar polished and cinematic, but never entirely stripped of the cold, underground feeling that has always been central to Gothminister’s identity. The ‘classic’ band’s atmosphere is still present with a constant feeling of impending doom lurking beneath the melodies, while the electronic elements give the heavier material a danceable, almost club-oriented momentum. Gothminister understands that gothic metal doesn’t necessarily have to crawl through a graveyard—it can also march onto a neon-lit stage and turn the apocalypse into a celebration, with a familiar sound.

And that is where We Are All Demons works particularly well. The songs are built around memorable hooks and deliver huge refrains, mechanical rhythms and dark melodic passages repeatedly lock together, creating an accessible sound without abandoning the band’s sinister aesthetic. The intersection of metal, industrial and gothic rock can be confusing for some, but the fans of eccentric mix will surely find this a bliss for their ears. And we’re sure the visual part of the show, when it will be performed, will not disappoint as this is performance music—music designed for lights, smoke, costumes, raised fists and a crowd screaming along to the chorus. We Are All Demons embraces that quality wholeheartedly.

We Are All Demons is Gothminister’s usual signature of dark, melodic, theatrical and unapologetically bombastic, and it demonstrates why Gothminister has carved out such a distinctive niche within the gothic/industrial metal scene. In summary, the album is a polished collection of gothic-industrial metal anthems where demons don’t hide in the darkness—they take the stage, turn up the volume and invite everyone else to join the party.