Flowing Tears
„Jade“
LP, Black Vinyl, Reissue 2021 (2000). Dark, Gothic Rock/Metal.

Flowing Tears was a German gothic rock/metal band that existed from 1994 to 2008 (2014) in various lineups. I will focus on the period from 1997 to 2008, as in my opinion the two (also similarly sounding) frontwomen, Stefanie Duchêne (1997–2002) and Helen Vogt (2003–2008), with their darker voices, were clearly the faces of the band. Since 2018, Stefanie Duchêne has been active again with Behind Your Fear. Her impressive voice still hints at Flowing Tears' influence.

Ophelia by Behind Your Fear 
Anthropocene by Behind Your Fear

 "Jade" was the band's third album and their second with Stefanie Duchêne. Since it's not easy to find used and affordable CDs, I was all the more delighted when Transcending Records re-released "Jade" in 2021.

Flowing Tears weren't an innovative or new form of gothic rock/metal. Of course, good music doesn't have to be new to be good. What made the difference since 1997 was Stefanie's darker voice. Not a sweet, feminine, bright voice like Liv Kristine's (Theatre Of Tragedy). And that's precisely what immediately fascinated me. It gives gothic a completely different feel. Liv Kristine and Theatre Of Tragedy did that too, just in their own way. And that's why this isn't meant to be a comparison.

I wouldn't classify "Jade" as Gothic Metal, like the later "Thy Kingdom Gone." It's a rather quiet Dark/Gothic Rock album that thrives on Stefanie's vocals. Unlike other, considerably more kitschy Gothic bands (which I also enjoy), Stefanie (who was just 20 in 2000) delivered everything with a more mature feel. There's no pervasive depression here; hope and light shine through again and again. That's what I mean by mature Gothic, as opposed to teen heartbreak Gothic, which of course has its place.

What is the message of the opening track, "Godless"? The short, rocking song thrives on Stefanie's versatile vocals. Fragile at the beginning, stronger as it progresses. A simple rhythm. So what? The song is good. "Sistersun," however, surpasses it. It's about growing older and preparing for one's own death. Clichéd? Yes. Well-performed? Yes. "Swallow," on the other hand, is an earworm that doesn't work for me at all. Too much repetition; for me, it's the weakest track. However, it's not a song to skip. The sad song "Lovesong For A Dead Child" deals with the end of a relationship, but it also leaves room for hope. "Under The Red" makes my heart beat faster. Alternating between rocking and quiet passages. Superbly sung. For me, it's the heart of this album. No expansive keyboard passages typical of gothic music. On this album, they support the guitars, and I really like that.

“Turpentine” is a short instrumental “nightcap” before “The One I Drownend” begins. Even though the lyrics are quite repetitive, it's Stefanie's vocal delivery that makes it stand out. The band is good, no doubt, but I maintain that without Stefanie, the album wouldn't work as well. She's what sets it apart from the thousands of other gothic bands. "Vanity" features male spoken word, accompanied by piano/keyboard. A good break, though also very dark: "Does it really take dying children, to see what makes the world go round?" I must also highlight "Radio Heroine," a song full of longing that begins gently and builds to a furious finale. Any criticism? It's too short. "Coma Garden" is very quietly performed and, at just over two minutes, quite short. "Jade" begins quietly again and ends with a rocking wall of guitars. "White Horses" features more male spoken word, short lyrics, and the rest is rocking instrumental. Unfortunately, I don't know who was responsible for the spoken word. 

Conclusion

It's a shame Flowing Tears is no more. Stefanie Duchêne's voice left its mark not only on "Jade." There's virtually no downtime, even though the songs are simply structured. For me, gothic music is all about the atmosphere it evokes, and Flowing Tears achieves this impressively. Especially because of Stefanie's voice. Highly recommended.

Bass – Frederic Lesny
Drums – Eric Hilt
Guitar – Benjamin Buss, Manfred Bersin
Keyboards – Mike Volz
Mastered By – Siggi Bemm
Mixed By – Waldemar Sorychta
Music By, Lyrics By – Flowing Tears
Producer – Waldemar Sorychta
Vocals – Stefanie Duchêne

The photos are all from my LP. The rights to all motifs, logos, texts and fonts that can be seen in the photos are of course owned by the copyright holder.

No AI was used in the making of this Review.
©31.August.2026