Sixth full-length album of this German Dark Electro/Industrial project consisting in their current line-up of Stefan Schötz and Tino Claus. All of their last studio albums they've released under the wings of the German Scanner / Dark Dimensions label but with "Black Halo" they returned to their very own brand 9XO Media with which they started in 2003 to release some early demo recordings as well as some of their related side-projects (Neukampf / TC75). Asides the usual availability via download (Bandcamp) this new studio album can be purchased as a physically CD pressing (300 exemplars) and also as a rare limited box-set of 97 already sold-out items.

For all those of you readers out there who still haven't heard of Amnistia I try again to find the right shelf to sort their musically outfit into. They produce classic arranged Dark Electro music which often flirts with the works of prominent global players of the Electro/Industrial scene of the 80s/90s music era. Puppy, FLA, 242 or some famous European projects like early Evils Toy, Sleepwalk or Abscess in the mid-90s have left without doubt musically impact on Stefan and Tino. But Amnistia and their way through the years until 2019 are by far more than copycats of above mentioned projects. This is post-modern Dark Electro music far above the level what people still call and compare to that repetitive Harsh-EBM / Hellectro-formula.
After the usual start of any Amnistia album with an instrumental track entitled "Init" here in its 7th version ("Ini7"), the mid-tempo based "Package of Regrets" catches easily all recognition. Be it the epic synth pads or the pleasant distortion effects of Tino's vocals this track is to me one of the oustanding tunes, somehow in that direction how I would like to hear it on an imaginary, never-released third Pulse Legion- or din_fiv-album. "The Itch" increases the pace and adds some distorted guitar undertones to boost the synth bass-lines - quite effective and aggressive produced, this one should be able to set fire on the dancefloors.
"Through The Night" points out the most difference of Amnistia to the above mentioned influence of the Canadian veterans: These bass-line sequences combined with a steady kick-and-snare work represent that typically the mid-90s era of label releases provided by Celtic Circle Productions (Sleepwalk, Page 12) or Gothic Arts Records (Paracont, Splatter Squall). This is quite European infected Dark Electro out of those glory days with its unavoidable EBM influence - and this influence also separates Amnistia to the Puppy-related kingdom, because their EBM roots are still included. Actually and as long as it comes out that well and professional produced like from Amnistia, it is stylish - it is their signature.

The scenario changes again with the title track. The multiple chosen voice samples at the beginning and the interupted bass lines evoke a stronger Puppy-relation than any other track on this album. "Crowds Cheer Verdict" with its integrated Trump voice-samples proves that the protagonists actually think about messages in their lyrics and its politically meaning - and at least they aren't afraid to turn the knife in a wound. "Misery" is another hot knife which cuts through the butter with its elegant synth pad programmings to lead Tino's vocals. "In Between" turns out to be a mid-tempo monster with more than 6 minutes playing time and reanimates a nearly comparable impression like with "Package Of Regrets" - what an epic arrangement.

After nearly 57 minutes of this top-notch produced Dark Electro masterpiece I for me personally had enough sense of duty to press the "repeat"-button on my discman once again (yes - the physically product RULES - just look on that cool looking spine-radiograph...). "Black Halo" is without doubt their most matured album so far, a true gem of real Dark Electro/Industrial music. Pick up this beautiful flower in the snow!