Flowing Tears
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in Wadgassen, Germany |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Wadgassen , Germany |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Flowing Tears was a German gothic metal ensemble established in 1993 in Wadgassen. Initially, they performed under the name Flowing Tears & Withered Flowers, which was used for their first recordings. The group's last roster featured vocalist Helen Vogt, guitarist and keyboardist Benjamin Buss, bassist David Vogt, and drummer Stefan Gemballa.
1994–1999: Origins and initial outputs
The band came together in 1994 as Flowing Tears & Withered Flowers, releasing the demo Bijou in 1995, followed by two full-length albums—Swansongs (1996) and Joy Parade (1998)—and the EP Swallow (1999). Male vocals on Swansongs were contributed by Manfred Bersin. After issuing Swallow, the group shortened their name to simply "Flowing Tears".
2002–2004: Serpentine, lineup adjustments, and live performances
The 2002 album Serpentine saw the band evolve their sound from that of Jade, embracing a more energetic and less somber tone. Following the exit of Stefanie Duchêne, Helen Vogt took over vocal duties. Retaining a comparable musical approach, they released their fifth studio album, Razorbliss.
In 2004, Flowing Tears supported After Forever on tour. On 20 October 2004, founding members Björn Lorson and Cristian Zimmer tragically died in a car accident; Lorson was still active with the band at that time.
2008–2014: Release of Thy Kingdom Gone and subsequent pause
October 2008 marked the release of their sixth studio effort, Thy Kingdom Gone, a concept album comprising twelve tracks accompanied by artwork from Seth Siro Anton, renowned for collaborations with Moonspell, Soilwork, and Paradise Lost. In January 2013, vocalist Helen Vogt announced via Facebook that the band would enter a hiatus but expressed openness to future projects. By March 2014, she confirmed that Thy Kingdom Gone would stand as their final album.
Last lineup
- Helen Vogt – lead vocals (2003–2014)
- Benjamin Buss – guitar, keyboards, programming (1994–2014)
- David Vogt – bass guitar (2007–2014)
- Stefan Gemballa – drums (2002–2014)
Previous members
- Lena Fischer – keyboards (1994–1995)
- Björn Lorson – guitar (1994–1995) (deceased)
- Manfred Bersin – vocals (1994–1998); guitar (1996–1999)
- Christian Zimmer – drums (1994–1997) (deceased)
- Stefanie Duchêne – vocals (1998–2003)
- Eric Hilt – drums (1998–2000)
- Mike Voltz – keyboards (2000)
- Frédéric Lesny – bass guitar (1994–2007)
As Flowing Tears & Withered Flowers
- Bijou (demo; 1995)
- Swansongs (1996)
- Joy Parade (1998)
- Swallow (EP; 1999)
As Flowing Tears
- Jade (2000)
- Serpentine (2002)
- Razorbliss (2004)
- Invanity – Live in Berlin (2007)
- Thy Kingdom Gone (2008)
External links
- AllMusic profile
- Discogs artist page