Allerseelen's "Kastanienlied". A Haunting Neofolk Rendition of Goethe's Chestnut Metaphor. Essay by Grok 03.10.2025

Allerseelen: Kastanienlied (Chestnut Song)
https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/track/kastanienlied

Lyrics: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Music: Gerhard Hallstatt

https://www.deutschestextarchiv.de/book/view/goethe_divan_1819?p=165

"Allerseelen, the long-running Austrian project led by Gerhard Hallstatt, has carved out a niche in the neofolk and post-industrial underground Drawing on pagan, esoteric, and alpine mysticism, their music often blends acoustic folk elements with martial rhythms, dark ambient textures, and a sense of ritualistic introspection. "Kastanienlied" (Chestnut Song), featured on the 2014 album Hallstatt, exemplifies this approach by adapting a poem from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's West-östlicher Divan (West-Eastern Divan, 1819) into a brooding, atmospheric track, a concise yet evocative piece that marries literary depth with sonic minimalism.

Musically, "Kastanienlied" leans into Allerseelen's signature style: sparse acoustic guitar strumming forms the backbone, layered with Gerhard Hallstatt's deep, incantatory vocals that recite Goethe's verses in German. Subtle percussion - evident in live performances, such as a 2013 Zagreb show featuring drummers John Murphy and Thomas Bojden - adds a rhythmic pulse that evokes the gentle swaying of branches described in the poem. The production has an earthy, lo-fi quality, with faint industrial undertones like distant echoes or reverb that give it a timeless, almost archaic feel. It builds tension through repetition, mirroring the poem's cyclical imagery of ripening and release. Fans of neofolk acts like Death in June or Current 93 might appreciate its restrained intensity. Still, in a genre often criticized for its esoteric leanings, this track stands out for its literary fidelity and subtle menace.

Goethe's poem, part of his West-östlicher Divan - a collection inspired by Persian poet Hafiz and blending Eastern mysticism with Western romanticism - uses the chestnut as a metaphor for creative inspiration. The fruits hang "unconsciously and still" on branches, ripening inwardly until they burst free and fall "heaped into your lap" (or "Schoß" in German). On the surface, it's a tender ode to artistic gestation: ideas swelling like kernels, seeking light and air, then spilling forth to the beloved. Gerhard Hallstatt's delivery amplifies this, his voice carrying a ritualistic weight that aligns with Allerseelen's themes of nature, folklore, and transformation. The song feels like a sonic invocation, turning Goethe's words into a meditative chant that could soundtrack a solitary walk through Austrian forests.

The lyrics absolutely lend themselves to a sexual interpretation, one that's arguably baked into Goethe's original text. The imagery is ripe (pun intended) with phallic and erotic symbolism - the "swelling dark kernel" ripening from within, the "prickly green shell" bursting with joy, and the fruits tumbling "heaped into your lap." "Schoß" is particularly loaded in German; while it translates as "lap," it historically connotes the womb or even the genital area, evoking fertility, conception, or outright ejaculation. This isn't a stretch: Goethe's work often pulses with sensuality, from the predatory undertones in "Heidenröslein" (sometimes read as a metaphor for sexual assault) to the erotic mysticism in Divan as a whole, influenced by Hafiz's wine-and-love motifs. In a Freudian lens, the chestnut becomes a stand-in for male desire - contained, building pressure, then explosively released. Allerseelen's rendition enhances this subtext; the repetitive, almost hypnotic structure mimics rhythmic build-up and climax, while the neofolk genre's pagan roots often embrace such primal, bodily themes without apology." (END)

Allerseelen: Kastanienlied (Chestnut Song)
https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/track/kastanienlied

Lyrics: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Music: Gerhard Hallstatt

https://www.deutschestextarchiv.de/book/view/goethe_divan_1819?p=165

Photo: Kastanien im Wasser. Chestnuts in Water c Gerhard Hallstatt 21.09.2007

Allerseelen's "Kastanienlied". A Haunting Neofolk Rendition of Goethe's Chestnut Metaphor. Essay by Grok 03.10.2025
https://t.me/allerseelenallerseelen/2998

"Goethe's poem, part of his West-östlicher Divan - a collection inspired by Persian poet Hafiz and blending Eastern mysticism with Western romanticism - uses the chestnut as a metaphor for creative inspiration. The fruits hang "unconsciously and still" on branches, ripening inwardly until they burst free and fall "heaped into your lap" (or "Schoß" in German). On the surface, it's a tender ode to artistic gestation: ideas swelling like kernels, seeking light and air, then spilling forth to the beloved." (Excerpt)

Allerseelen: Ich hatt einen Kameraden
https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/track/ich-hatt-einen-kameraden-2
https://retortae.bandcamp.com/track/ich-hatt-einen-kameraden

Electric guitars: Daniel P. (El Ultimo Sol, Arnica)
Bass: Marcel P. (Miel Noir, Werra)
Lyrics: Ludwig Uhland
Music, vocals: Gerhard Hallstatt

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_gute_Kamerad


Allerseelen CD Toteninsel
https://www.discogs.com/release/30965953-Allerseelen-Toteninsel-

Photo: Thor Goote. A page in the magazine Ahnstern III. Feuertaufe c Gerhard Hallstatt

All the issues of the bi-lingual magazines Aorta and Ahnstern are sold out but the English versions are available in this release:
https://inner-sanktvm.com/product/gerhard-hallstatt-blutleuchte/

https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/merch/allerseelen-mirror-4-33-diameter-76-mm

The Allerseelen mirror 4´33" has a diameter of 76 mm. This limited edition is for sale too - but Allerseelen and Aorta Mailorder prefer to give it as gift to those who purchase one or more physical Allerseelen releases, CD or vinyl.

Euro 10 without postage

The backside of this mirror shows one of the most impressive Perchten of the wild hunt at the Untersbergmuseum: The Todespercht, the Percht of Death. The original photograph was taken by Gerhard Hallstatt. The magazine with the old black-and-white photo of the same Todespercht is Aorta XX: Oskorei. This bilingual (German / English) issue with an early interview with Varg Vikernes and a text by Kadmon (Gerhard Hallstatt) about the history of Burzum and wild hunt rituals in Norway has been sold out for many years like all other Aorta and Ahnstern issues. But text and interview were reprinted in English in the limited book edition Gerhard Hallstatt: Blutleuchte by Inner Sanktvm. 4´33" refers of course to the famous composition by John Cage - the Austrian post-industrial project Allerseelen recorded in autumn 2025 a cover-version of this for a forthcoming release.

https://untersbergmuseum.net/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Christian_Alpine_traditions

https://inner-sanktvm.com/product/gerhard-hallstatt-blutleuchte/

The perfect ways to support Allerseelen:

http://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/music
https://retortae.bandcamp.com/music

http://www.discogs.com/seller/Aorta.Mailorder
https://www.discogs.com/seller/Aorta.Mailorder/profile?q=allerseelen

Aorta Mailorder on Discogs officially sells only to Europe. If you live in another area, please contact us.

You may also order via e-mail:
aorta.mail.order(at)protonmail(dot)com

https://linktr.ee/gerhardhallstatt

Allerseelen CD Lacrima Christi

https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/album/lacrima-christi-fr-hgeschichte-iv
https://retortae.bandcamp.com/album/fr-hgeschichte-iv-lacrima-christi

https://www.discogs.com/Allerseelen-Fr%C3%BChgeschichte-IV-Lacrima-Christi/release/12982474

+

ist Dir Trinken bitter
werde Wein

is drinking is bitter for you
become wine

se bere ti è amaro
diventa vino

(Rainer Maria Rilke)

+
baut eure Städte
an den Vesuv

build your cities o
n the slopes of Vesuvius

costruite le vostre case
sul Vesuvio

(Friedrich Nietzsche)

"The main inspiration for the Allerseelen cassette and CD Lacrima Christi was a dangerous experience - or hour of truth - by Gerhard Hallstatt in his youth inside the crater of the Italian volcano Vesuvius and - after returning from this brief journey into the underworld - a sweet Italian wine named Lacrima Christi. The eight works on Lacrima Christi are not songs in the strict sense of the word. The dark loops that are intertwining each other in a hypnotic way appear rather like the soundtrack for a movie that was never made or never finished. A movie without actors: There are no lyrics, not even titles. These ritual rhythms and loops create a feeling like being inside the crater, the caldera of a volcano that is not dead but dormant. The sweet wine Lacrima Christi that grows on the ash grey slopes of the volcano Vesuvius refers to a Catholic myth about the tears of Christ during his passion. Self-built flutes and xylophones made of bones, metal, wood are creating an archaic and melancholic aura to remind the listener of the fragility and transience of life. They symbolize the co-existence of sweetness and bitterness, of light and darkness, of lust and loss, of life and death."

Allerseelen CD Lacrima Christi

https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/album/lacrima-christi-fr-hgeschichte-iv
https://retortae.bandcamp.com/album/fr-hgeschichte-iv-lacrima-christi

https://www.discogs.com/Allerseelen-Fr%C3%BChgeschichte-IV-Lacrima-Christi/release/12982474

+

ist Dir Trinken bitter
werde Wein

is drinking is bitter for you
become wine

se bere ti è amaro
diventa vino

(Rainer Maria Rilke)

+
baut eure Städte
an den Vesuv

build your cities o
n the slopes of Vesuvius

costruite le vostre case
sul Vesuvio

(Friedrich Nietzsche)
+

MIEL NOIR (Thymos)

German Interview with Marcel P. from Miel Noir in Thymos. English Summary by Grok, 28.09.2025.

Miel Noir Interview (Thymos) (German):
https://thymosmagazin.de/2024/04/01/dark-wave-gegen-den-mainstream-miel-noir-im-interview

"The interview, published on April 1, 2024, in Thymos Magazin, features Marcel P., a multifaceted German musician and producer prominently involved in the neofolk and dark wave scenes. Titled "Dark Wave gegen den Mainstream" (Dark Wave Against the Mainstream), it explores his diverse projects, the origins and evolution of Miel Noir, creative collaborations, and his ideological perspectives on music and society. Below is a structured summary based on the key topics discussed.

Background and Musical Versatility

Marcel describes himself as a "jack-of-all-trades" in music, with roots in classical orchestral recordings from his youth, followed by hard rock and metal bands like Moby’s Dick (with numerous concerts and a CD-R release) and his first "serious" band, Ill-Sanity. Today, he juggles multiple projects, including Allerseelen, Fahl, Halgadom, Werra, Ill-Sanity, Stumpff, Svarrogh, Von Thronstahl, and Barditus. As a producer with his own studio, he values the independence it provides, allowing him to handle recordings without external dependencies. Miel Noir stands out as his most central endeavor, though he emphasizes his multifaceted roles as musician, vocalist, and visual performer.

Werra: A Pure Neofolk Venture

Marcel highlights Werra as his "purest" exploration of neofolk, with two acclaimed albums. Regarding future plans, he admits his ideas are still vague and ties them to broader themes in the interview, leaving room for speculation without firm commitments.

Origins and Growth of Miel Noir

Miel Noir was not Marcel's creation but originated from Bulgarian artist Dimo Dimov of the folk-ambient-black-metal band Svarrogh. They connected through Allerseelen collaborations - first live performances, then studio work. The project's debut was a multimedia art release: a CD-R with Dimo's music paired with a booklet of photos from a joint art performance, crediting Marcel and Gerhard Hallstatt as visual performers only. Early releases evolved into instrumental splits and EPs, marking a phase of experimentation. The band's incarnation crystallized at a Madrid festival in 2022, where a last-minute cancellation forced a spontaneous, under-rehearsed set that surprisingly succeeded, inspiring the EP Wabenheim and solidifying their lineup.

Collaboration with Changes: Blending Styles and Ideological Depth

A recent highlight is a collaborative album with the influential American neofolk band Changes, blending their signature sounds into neofolk tracks with unexpectedly political lyrics. Standout songs include one dedicated to Kyle Rittenhouse and "They Made Us Fall," a pointed critique of the left-liberal establishment's alleged erosion of Western culture, touching on BLM riots, U.S. election disputes, and COVID-19 restrictions. The project arose from dual sparks: Marcel DJing at Changes' final German concert (which he organized) and a fallout with his Werra guitarist over pandemic views, prompting him to share lyrics with Changes' Nicholas Tesluk. Tesluk's enthusiasm led to re-recorded classics and new material, incorporating Werra influences for a cohesive "cultural battle" narrative.

Perspectives on the Dark Wave Scene and Political/Ideological Engagement

Marcel views the dark wave scene as largely apolitical, dominated by anti-right-wing sentiments ("Gruftis gegen rechts") that marginalize explicitly ideological projects. He positions his work, including the Changes album, as weltanschaulich (worldview-oriented) rather than partisan, avoiding direct political calls to action. This stance has cost him personally - a lost friendship with his ex-Werra guitarist and exclusion from a 2021 concert due to "2G+" COVID rules. He dismisses early backlash from radical left groups against associated projects like Allerseelen and Von Thronstahl, predating Miel Noir. On artists' political roles, Marcel advocates for art that provokes thought - e.g., questioning freedom curbs during the pandemic - over prescriptive messaging, preferring open interpretations to influence without dictating.

The Rise of Dissident Music and Calls for Rebellion

Marcel observes a surge in "rebellious" music during the COVID era, especially in hip-hop, where artists boldly opposed restrictions; he respects their courage despite not favoring the genre. In contrast, he lambasts the dark wave community for its conformity and lack of edge, urging more defiance against mainstream pressures. He sees Miel Noir's raw, anti-commercial ethos as a counterpoint, rooted in authentic expression over polished trends.Overall, the interview portrays Marcel as a defiant creative force, using Miel Noir to challenge cultural norms while navigating the tensions between art, ideology, and industry constraints. No specific future releases for Miel Noir are detailed beyond ongoing evolution, but the tone suggests continued boundary-pushing collaborations."

END

TUCKER CARLSON on MIEL NOIR & CHANGES

Please NOTE: This is NOT an actual text by the political commentator Tucker Carlson presenting the Miel Noir & Changes CD Defiance to his audience. The Austrian label Aorta - that published this release recently - had asked Grok on 28.09.2025 to imagine a script that Tucker Carlson could have written and broadcasted in a primetime show in which he not only presents this CD but also analyzes an interview with the music group Miel Noir where member Marcel P. also talks about Kyle Rittenhouse.

Miel Noir & Changes CD Defiance:
https://mielnoir.bandcamp.com/album/defiance-album

Miel Noir Interview (Thymos) (German):
https://thymosmagazin.de/2024/04/01/dark-wave-gegen-den-mainstream-miel-noir-im-interview

Miel Noir Interview (Thymos). Summary by Grok 28.09.2025:
https://t.me/aortamailorder/1852
https://t.me/aortamailorder/1853

"Tucker Carlson's Primetime: Spotlight on Defiance

Fade in: Tucker Carlson at his desk, the studio lights casting a dramatic glow on a sleek black CD case emblazoned with "Defiance" by Miel Noir & Changes. He leans forward, eyes sharp, a half-smile playing on his lips as the audience murmurs in anticipation.

"Good evening, and welcome back to Tucker Carlson Tonight. Folks, in a world where the cultural overlords are busy canceling anything that doesn't toe their woke line, it's refreshing - nay, it's downright defiant - to stumble upon art that actually fights back. Tonight, I'm not talking about another Hollywood flop or a sanitized pop single. No, we're diving into the underground pulse of Europe, where a collaboration between the German dark wave project Miel Noir and the legendary American neofolk band Changes has dropped a bombshell of an album called Defiance. This isn't just music; it's a sonic Molotov cocktail hurled at the machine. And trust me, if you're tired of the endless parade of conformity, this one's got your name on it.

Let me set the stage. Changes - formed back in the '80s by visionaries like Nicholas Tesluk and Robert N. Taylor - pioneered this brooding, folk-infused sound that whispers truths the mainstream screams to suppress. They've been the godfathers of neofolk, blending acoustic guitars, haunting vocals, and lyrics that cut like a winter wind through the illusions of modern life. Enter Miel Noir, the brainchild of Marcel P., a German multi-instrumentalist who's been grinding in the shadows of the dark wave scene for years. Marcel's no stranger to pushing boundaries; he's got his hands in projects like Allerseelen and Von Thronstahl, crafting sounds that echo the raw, unfiltered spirit of resistance. Together, on Defiance, they've fused their worlds into something explosive - a 50/50 marriage of Changes' ethereal melancholy and Miel Noir's gritty, bass-driven edge. Released on the Austrian Aorta label, this CD packs 16 tracks clocking in at over an hour of pure, unadulterated rebellion. It's dedicated to the late Jerome Deppe, a nod to the unsung heroes who've kept this flame alive.

Now, let's talk tracks, because this isn't filler - it's firepower. You kick off with 'Twilight Of The Gods / Götterdämmerung,' a brooding opener that feels like the end credits to our crumbling empire, Marcel's deep bass rumbling like thunder under Tesluk's ghostly guitar. Then there's 'Automatons,' a chilling takedown of the soulless drones we've all become in this surveillance state - vocals weaving between Estella Plunkett's ethereal highs and R.N. Taylor's gravelly lows. 'The Liars All Along' hits like a gut punch, exposing the gaslighting we've endured for years. And don't get me started on 'Rage For The Machine' - it's got that industrial snarl, percussion pounding like a heartbeat in lockdown, screaming for us to wake up.

But here's where it gets personal, folks. The crown jewel? Track 15: 'The Old Beast (For Kyle).' That's right - a full eight-and-a-half minutes dedicated to Kyle Rittenhouse, the young man the left tried to crucify for defending himself against a mob in Kenosha back in 2020. I sat down with the details from Marcel P. himself, straight from a no-holds-barred interview he gave to Thymos Magazin in Germany last April. Marcel didn't mince words. He told them this album was born from two sparks: first, organizing Changes' final gig in Germany, where he and Tesluk jammed out an acoustic take on '(In)tolerance' that lit the fuse. But the real ignition? The COVID madness. Marcel wrote a song called 'They Made Us Fall' - track 14, a searing four-minute indictment of the establishment's iron-fisted lockdowns, the BLM riots that torched cities while the media cheered, and yeah, the sham trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. He poured his fury into lyrics calling out the 'left-liberal establishment' for eroding Western culture, rigging elections, and trampling freedoms under the guise of safety.

Marcel got real about it. His own guitarist in another project bailed on him over pandemic views - couldn't stomach Marcel's stance that those mandates were a straight-up assault on human and constitutional rights. So, he shipped the lyrics to Tesluk, who lit up like it was Christmas. 'Brilliant,' Tesluk said, and slapped a melody on it that turns pain into power. On Rittenhouse specifically? Marcel sees him as a symbol - a kid smeared as a white supremacist by a media desperate to fit him into their narrative, only for the truth to acquit him in court. 'The Old Beast (For Kyle)' isn't some weepy tribute; it's a roaring anthem of vindication, with cello swells and tambura drones building to a crescendo that feels like justice finally roaring back. Marcel calls the whole album 'weltanschaulich' - that's German for worldview stuff, not straight-up partisan rallying. But make no mistake: it's a cultural battle cry, questioning everything from election fraud whispers to the tolerance that's morphed into tyranny.

Tracks like 'What Is The New World Order?' and 'Reclaim Your Story' double down, urging us to reject the script they've written for us. 'Waiting For The Fall' closes it out with a whisper of inevitability, but not defeat - more like a promise that the defiant will rise from the ashes.

Look, in an era where Big Tech scrubs dissent and record labels chase ESG scores over soul, Defiance is a lifeline. It's not for the faint of heart or the algorithm-addicted; it's for those of us who remember when art meant something - when it provoked, it challenged, it liberated. Marcel P. and the Changes crew aren't chasing Grammys; they're forging weapons in the forge of folk and wave. Grab this CD - you won't find it on Spotify's approved list. Head to Miel Noir's Bandcamp or Discogs, support the underground, and let it play loud. Because if we don't defy now, when?

That's tonight's take. Up next: the latest on the border betrayal. Stay vigilant, America. Good night."

Cut to commercial as the screen fades on the album cover, a stark black-and-white image evoking shadowed figures against a crumbling skyline."

END

Allerseelen: Allerseelen (Hermann von Gilm) https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/track/allerseelen

Kapuzinergruft, Wien c Gerhard Hallstatt 04.11.2008

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaisergruft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Crypt

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Kapuzinergruft

Perfect ways to support Allerseelen:

Europe: http://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/music
Russia: https://retortae.bandcamp.com/music

http://www.discogs.com/seller/Aorta.Mailorder
https://www.discogs.com/seller/Aorta.Mailorder/profile?q=allerseelen

Aorta Mailorder officially sells only to Europe. If you live in another area, please contact us. You may also order via e-mail:
aorta.mail.order(at)protonmail(dot)com

https://linktr.ee/gerhardhallstatt

Miel Noir Interview (Thymos) (German):
https://thymosmagazin.de/2024/04/01/dark-wave-gegen-den-mainstream-miel-noir-im-interview

Miel Noir Interview (Thymos). Summary by Grok 28.09.2025:
https://t.me/aortamailorder/1852
https://t.me/aortamailorder/1853

Miel Noir: "Ohne den Wahnsinn des um sich greifenden Kommunismus unter der Flagge der „Gesundheit“ hätten wir uns sicher auch was miteinander ausgedacht, aber so war es ein bewußter Kulturkampf."
https://thymosmagazin.de/2024/04/01/dark-wave-gegen-den-mainstream-miel-noir-im-interview
https://x.com/Allerseelen/status/1775111625550274646

Tardor Daurada, Wienerwald c Gerhard Hallstatt 02.11.2008

Allerseelen: Herbstlied (Rauhe Schale)
https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/track/herbstlied

Allerseelen: Herbstlied (Dunkelgraue Lieder)
https://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/track/herbstlied-2

Allerseelen CD Rauhe Schale
https://www.discogs.com/de/Allerseelen-Rauhe-Schale/release/2289174

Allerseelen CD Dunkelgraue Lieder
https://www.discogs.com/de/release/10351705-Allerseelen-Dunkelgraue-Lieder

Perfect ways to support Allerseelen:

http://allerseelen.bandcamp.com/music
https://retortae.bandcamp.com/music

http://www.discogs.com/seller/Aorta.Mailorder
https://www.discogs.com/seller/Aorta.Mailorder/profile?q=allerseelen

Aorta Mailorder officially sells only to Europe. If you live in another area, please contact us. You may also order via e-mail:
aorta.mail.order(at)protonmail(dot)com

https://linktr.ee/gerhardhallstatt

Marcel views the dark wave scene as largely apolitical, dominated by anti-right-wing sentiments ("Gruftis gegen rechts") that marginalize explicitly ideological projects. He positions his work, including the Changes album, as weltanschaulich (worldview-oriented) rather than partisan, avoiding direct political calls to action. This stance has cost him personally - a lost friendship with his ex-Werra guitarist and exclusion from a 2021 concert due to "2G+" COVID rules. He dismisses early backlash from radical left groups against associated projects like Allerseelen and Von Thronstahl, predating Miel Noir. On artists' political roles, Marcel advocates for art that provokes thought - e.g., questioning freedom curbs during the pandemic - over prescriptive messaging, preferring open interpretations to influence without dictating.

The Rise of Dissident Music and Calls for Rebellion

Marcel observes a surge in "rebellious" music during the COVID era, especially in hip-hop, where artists boldly opposed restrictions; he respects their courage despite not favoring the genre. In contrast, he lambasts the dark wave community for its conformity and lack of edge, urging more defiance against mainstream pressures. He sees Miel Noir's raw, anti-commercial ethos as a counterpoint, rooted in authentic expression over polished trends.Overall, the interview portrays Marcel as a defiant creative force, using Miel Noir to challenge cultural norms while navigating the tensions between art, ideology, and industry constraints. No specific future releases for Miel Noir are detailed beyond ongoing evolution, but the tone suggests continued boundary-pushing collaborations."

END