Qntal

Qntal
Syrah and Mariko of Qntal performing in Hunt Valley, Maryland in 2010
Background information
Origin	Germany
Genres	Industrial music Darkwave Neofolk
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Gymnastic Records, Stars in the Dark, Noir Records, Drakkar Entertainment
Associated acts	Estampie, Deine Lakaien, Helium Vola
Members
Syrah Michael Popp Fil Mariko
Past members
Ernst Horn

Qntal is a German "electro-medieval" band founded in 1991 by Michael Popp and Ernst Horn. They later added vocalist Syrah (aka Sigrid Hausen) to complete the band. It has roots in Estampie, a band of similar genre but different style; Michael Popp and Syrah are the principal members. Horn left the group in 1999, to concentrate on his other band, Deine Lakaien. He later formed Helium Vola in 2001. Philipp Groth (a.k.a. Fil) then joined Qntal. In 2008 singer and violinist Mariko left the New York based band Unto Ashes to work with Qntal and Estampie in Germany.^[1]

The band's lyrics are primarily drawn from historical sources. Throughout their first three albums, lyrics were primarily in Latin, medieval German, Galician-Portuguese and a few other European tongues. On Qntal IV, the band added a few songs in English to their body of work.

Qntal has headlined at significant goth and industrial music festivals such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen and M'era Luna. Qntal's debut US concert took place in September 2004 at Dracula's Ball in Philadelphia. In 2007, 2008, and 2011 the band was featured in the Bad Faerie Ball in the Baltimore FaerieCon.

"Qntal" is a made-up word that appeared in one of Syrah's dreams. Its pronunciation varies among sources. However, Syrah herself, during live performances, pronounces it [kn̩tal].

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Compilations

• 2008 – Purpurea: The Best Of, Drakkar Entertainment

Singles

• 2002 – O, Tristan
• 2003 – Entre Moi
• 2005 – Cupido
• 2005 – Flamma
• 2006 – Von den Elben
• 2008 – Sumer

Special releases

• 2006 – Qntal V: Silver Swan 2 CD; Noir Records Special Edition featuring artwork by Brian Froud

Compilation appearances

• 1993 – "Por Mau Tens" on German Mystic Sound Sampler Volume IV, Zillo
• 1993 – "Ad Mortem Festinamus" on We Came To Dance - Indie Dancefloor Vol. III, Sub Terranean
• 2005 – "Ecce Gratum (Club Mix)" on Asleep by Dawn Magazine Presents: DJ Ferrets Underground Mix #1, Asleep by Dawn Magazine
• 2005 – "Entre Moi Et Mon Amin" on Sleepwatching, Vol. 1 DVD, Asleep by Dawn Magazine
• 2006 – "Von Den Elben" music video on Asleep By Dawn - DJ Ferret's Underground Mix #2 CD/DVD, Asleep by Dawn Magazine

Members

Current members

• Syrah (1991–present) - Vocals
• Michael Popp (1991–present) - Vocals, vielle, saz, shawm, oud, tar
• Philipp "Fil" Groth (2002–present) - Keyboards, vocals, guitars, programming

Former members

• Ernst Horn (1991–1999)

References

External links

• Qntal Official website
• Qntal listing at Discogs.com
• Qntal discography at MusicBrainz
• Qntal Official Myspace Run by Andreas Meck and Cypress