After the success of their 2023 EP Schlund, German Black Metal sextet Der Rote Milan are back with a new release, Verlust. Der Rote Milan are from Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, which sits on the border of Luxembourg, an aspect reflected by the track titles on this release being in Luxembourgish.
Der Rote Milan – Verlust
Release Date: 12 December 2025
Words: Jools Green
Verlust translates as ‘Loss’, and as the title suggests, it lyrically explores the “strange sense of beauty that emerges from despair through the multi-faceted nature in which loss is experienced,” the band explain.
“Verlust is steeped in a deep sense of humanity,” Der Rote Milan says, “of indulging in the human condition, even those parts many may wish to avoid.”
The band draw inspiration from “nature, but also from the darker side of humanity’s acts, notably historical wars in Central Europe, anti-religion and on an individual level, inner conflict.”
Like its predecessor, Schlund, Verlust is once again five tracks of around twenty-three minutes duration. But this time, commendably, they build further on their riff-driven atmospheric sound and expand their lyrical depth.
Opening with Aus der Finsternis (Out Of The Dark), this focuses on the initial shock and the first stage of loss, reflected in waves of bleak riffing, creating a bleak atmosphere. The raw vocals express the desolation and impact of the haunting melodic background screams that manifest in the second half. Slowing gradually to a bleak standstill, a superb track that oozes atmosphere and desolation in equal measures.
Où allez-vous (Where Are You Going) delves into the raw heartache, portraying the need to surrender to the grief rather than attempt to resist it. Here, haunting reflective black riffs open and as it progresses, the acidic vocals cut through the waves of riffs that build and develop.
The element I absolutely love about this track is the drum rhythms. They add so much to the depth and texture of the piece, even during the quieter reflective segment midway, and really come into their own in the more driving, ferocious segments.
In Skepsis der Existenz (Scepticism Of Existence), haunting and lamenting, grief, longing and despair transform into anger directed both inwardly and outwardly. The band consider this piece “the emotional heart of the album, and the emotion that emanates from the sound represents the cold and stillness of loss.”
Musically reflected in an intense wave of undulating riffs that bombard you, this track is punctuated with haunting melodic swathes that reflect the grief and anger expressed. The vocals are raw, becoming more despairing midway, where the melodic passage is more extensive. Also, here, more of those clean, haunting backing screams are deployed, finally fading on waves of riffs, making another hugely powerful piece.
Title track Verlust (Loss) is delivered at a slower, very considered pace, with strong emotion reflected in the raw vocal delivery, particularly the higher torturous screams. The slower pace also allows for complexity in the riffs and drum delivery, which again reflects the complexity of the emotions expressed. It is bleak but beautiful.
Final piece Der letzte Rubin (The Last Ruby) is inspired by a poem of the German polymath and hugely influential writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The band explain that “this concluding piece subverts the portrayal of grief in the previous tracks by presenting a romanticised, idealised experience of love and grief and embraces tragedy with the compelling and alluring idea of suffering.”
Delivered initially at a driving pace, once again there are more of those superb drum rhythms. As it progresses, the riffs ebb, build and spiral before plunging into a slower, more reflective pace with the deep acidic growls tearing through.
There is a severe sharpness to the lead work which gradually develops more and more towards the close until the original driving pace with riffing waves and drum rhythms is resumed. The ending is sudden and startling, largely because the piece engages and enthrals the listener so deeply that the sudden cessation snaps you back into reality.
Verlust is a superb listen end to end. Less is definitely more here. released on 12 December 2025 via Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork, it will be available as a CD or digital download from Verlust | Der Rote Milan.
