Crematory (GER)

Founded in 1991 in Mannheim, Germany, Crematory quickly became one of Europe’s pioneering forces in Gothic and 'Darkmetal. Their early albums such as Transmigration (1993) and …Just Dreaming (1994) established a unique blend of heavy riffs, melodic keyboards, and dark atmospheres. With Illusions (1995) — the record that featured their future classic “Tears of Time” — and the follow-up Awake (1997), they built a strong fan base worldwide. Over the decades, Crematory evolved: In the 2000s and 2010s they incorporated more electronic and dark elements while still keeping their heavy Goth-metal roots. Albums like Act Seven (1998), Believe (2000), Revolution (2004), Pray (2008), Antiserum (2014) or Monument (2016) show this stylistic progression. With Inglorious Darkness (2022), the band even re-recorded their signature “Tears of Time” under the German title “Tränen der Zeit” — a nod to fans and a celebration of their long career. Most significantly, in May 2025 Crematory released their latest album, Destination, which debuted at #8 on the official German album Charts — their highest chart position ever. This renewed chart success underlines their enduring relevance and continuing appeal, even more than three decades after their formation.