History
Shaaman SpiRitual is the brand-new ethno metal project of Stefan Hertrich, sound track composer for PC games and vocalist/songwriter of various metal productions for more than 10 years. Supported by international guest musicians, the 29 year old artist hits the road again to explore distant cultures and alternative ways of thinking, as he did in 1999 (Betray My Secrets) and 2004 (Shiva in Exile, awarded with the American Just Plain Folks Music Award in the category "best new age/world album 2004"). Combining distant melancholic esthetics with hard metal elements, the first release entitled "Pulse" offers 8 epic ethno metal tracks (total running time: 45 minutes). Brute metal vocals and mercilessly low-tuned guitars are mixed with warm ethnic instruments and female vocals, creating a dynamic and energetic listening experience.

In his role as a writer, Hertrich as usual sees the world critically, but instead of observing the outer grievances under social and political viewpoints, he dips directly into the listener to show him his worst enemy on his way to growth and self-realization: doubts and fears. The lyrics of "Pulse" don't focus on hopelessness but motivate the listener/reader to recognize and establish positive character attributes slumbering in every human soul: courage, inner strength, sensibility, respect.

In cooperation with the German author and scientist Dr. phil. Christian Rätsch and the Russian video team Deviant Creations, a multimedia section was created, including a video clip as well as text material of the author. Being a world-renowned anthropologist and ethnopharmacologist he spent three years of fieldwork among the Lacandone Indians in Chiapas, Mexico, being the only European fluent in their language. His numerous fieldworks also have included research in Thailand, Bali, the Seychelles, and a long-term study (18 years) on shamanism in Nepal combined with expeditions to Korea and the Peruvian and Columbian Amazon. Atmospheric flutes and percussion insets were arranged by the Columbian Shaman Kajuyali Tsamani. Also appearing: female vocals by Gaby Koss (former Haggard, Germany) and Yana Veva (Theodor Bastard, Russia), drums by Maurizio Guolo (Darkseed, Germany) and guitar solos by the German artists Christian Bystron (Megaherz), Rene Berthiaume (Equilibrium) and Markus Glanz (Koyaanisqatsy). "Pulse" was recorded in the German Helion Studios and Russian Pustota Studios.

News
2nd SHIVA IN EXILE album 'Nour' now available! Posted 2008-09-06
Five years after the release of "Ethnic", the second album "Nour" of SHIVA IN EXILE is now available in our -> shop! SHIVA IN EXILE is the oriental/gothic side project of Stefan Hertrich and Yana Veva who both participated in SPIRITUAL as well. Also feel free to visit the -> SHIVA IN EXILE website with two exclusive tracks for free download AND a free download version of "Soulgate Open", the song you can hear in the multimedia section of SPIRITUAL "Pulse".
German interview at SQUEALER Posted 2006-11-16
German readers can find an interview about SpiRitual and spirituality: SQUEALER
"Pulse" with 2 more tracks! Posted 2006-09-11
The debut mini-CD "Pulse" of SpiRitual will now be shipped as full length album with two more songs! -> Shop.
Buyers of the mini-CD "Pulse" can download the two tracks for free! Send an email including your shop name to stefan@spi-ritual.com for getting the download links.
German interview at Subkultur Posted 2006-09-04
German readers can find an interview about SpiRitual and spirituality here: Subkultur. This interview will also be in the next issue of the print magazine Zillo.
Oriental/Gothic CD Compilation Posted 2006-08-10
In the shop of this website you can find a compilation CD with 12 oriental/gothic tracks, including the brand new Shiva In Exile song 'Khundas'. This CD compilation is released by the American record label Eventide Music Productions, the number 1 adress for gothic bellydancing releases. You can listen to song samples in the shop as well.
New Shiva in Exile album Posted 2006-08-07
Stefan Hertrich (Germany) and Yana Veva (Russia) started songwriting for the 2nd Shiva In Exile album. While the highly awarded debut album "Ethnic" (2004, Trostlos Records/Canada) featured performances from all over the world, the 2nd album is focussed on near/middle eastern instruments and vocal performances, exclusively done by Yana Veva, and will offer a new and fresh gothic experience.
Publisher and release date are not set yet.
Betray My Secrets re-released in Russia Posted 2006-06-07
The Russian label Mazzar/Mystic Empire will release a limited digipack version of the 1999 Betray My Secrets album in July. Betray My Secrets is the former project of Stefan, going into the same direction as SpiRitual. The 1999 German pressing can be ordered in the shop of this website.
German interview at Metal District Posted 2006-06-03
German readers can find an interview about SpiRitual and Betray My Secrets here: Metal District
German interview at Metal Storm.de Posted 2006-04-12
German readers can find an interview about SpiRitual, Darkseed and Stefans other projects here: www.Metalstorm.de
9,5/10 points at The-Pit.de, German interview in Metallic Zine Posted 2006-03-02
A German review of "Pulse" with 9,5/10 points can be found here:
Read a detailed German interview here:
Yana and Stefan featured on American sampler with SHIVA IN EXILE Posted 2006-02-08
Yana Veva and Stefan Hertrich wrote a new song for the ethno/gothic project SHIVA IN EXILE. The song is called "Khundas" and will be featured on an American gothic bellydancing compilation CD in spring. The mood can be compared to "Nahash" of the SpiRitual mini-CD "Pulse" and features deep percussion, middle eastern instruments and of course Yanas great melancholic vocals.
New interview at Darkside.ru Posted 2006-02-06
New SpiRitual interview can be found here (English and Russian)
Video download at MetalStorm.ee Posted 2006-02-02
Registered members of the webzine www.metalstorm.ee can download a high-res version of the video "Pulse".
5/5 points at Walls Of Fire, German interview at MetalMessage Mag Posted 2006-01-30
The German magazine Walls Of Fire rated "Pulse" with 5/5 points: www.wallsoffire.de
On www.metalmessage.de a German interview can be read.
"Nahash" appearing on the German SONIC SEDUCER CD sampler Posted 2006-01-24
The next issue of the German magazine SONIC SEDUCER will feature the SpiRitual song "Nahash". The magazine is sold on the German speaking market with a circulation of 60.000 copies.
German interview at Amboss Mag Posted 2006-01-20
German readers can find a SpiRitual interview here: www.amboss-mag.de
10/10 points at Darkside.ru Posted 2006-01-11
The big Russian online magazine Darkside.ru gave "Pulse" a 10/10 rating!
You can find the Russian review here: www.darkside.ru
10/10 points at German Goth-Zine Posted 2006-01-10
"Pulse" got 10 of 10 points in the German magazine Goth-Zine. You´ll be able to read the review on www.goth-zine.de in February.
"Save And Heal" on Radio Melodic Posted 2006-01-07
You can listen to the full version of "Save And Heal" on the German metal show Radio Melodic: www.radiomelodic.de (song is played after ca. 52 minutes, click on the button "Aktuelle Sendung" on the home site).
"Pulse" arrived - Russian release date Posted 2005-12-30
The preorders of "Pulse" will be shipped today! The release date for the Russian edition by CD Maximum was set to January 23rd. The Russian edition also will come as digipack and with sticker.
SpiRitual website online - preorder "Pulse"! Posted 2005-12-17
Welcome to the official SpiRitual website, the new ethnometal project of Stefan Hertrich, featuring various artists from all over the world. The debut mini-CD "Pulse" will be available in early January at CD-Maximum (Russian territory only!). The album isn't released worldwide yet, but you can preorder the album in the shop of this website (will be shipped on 28th of December). A list of distributors/labels/shops having this album in stock will be added soon and updated permanently. On this site you can find song samples, watch the video clip and find out more about the artists, the concept behind SpiRitual etc.

Feel free to use the message board for discussing music issues or other topics you are interested in.

If you work for a magazine and want to get detailed info/promo material, visit the press section. If you work for a record label/distributor and want to work together with Stefan Hertrich, visit the licensing section.If you are an artist who's able to perform an ethnic instrument or sing ethnic vocals, please get in contact with Stefan! He's always looking for extraordinary and skilled musicians!



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