Tannhauser: the early years
Tannhauser Orchestra (formerly just Tannhauser) was founded in 2007 by main songwriter Erick de Deyn. After releasing their debut album ‘Löven’ in 2009, all original members but Erick were replaced by multi-instrumentalist Geert Janssens and drum powerhouse Brecht Tijskens.
The new line-up effected a dramatic change in the band’s sound, becoming heavier and more spacious with each subsequent release. Dark beauty ‘The House of Sleep’ was released in 2013, preceded by an EP containing the iconic single ‘Slowburn’. Soon after, the band decided to emphasize the stylistic shift by renaming themselves Tannhauser Orchestra.
Becoming Tannhauser Orchestra
‘The House of Sleep’ was considered the first installment in Tannhauser Orchestra’s ‘Venus Trilogy’ and second part ‘Her Mountain’ followed suit in 2014. The album garnered positive reviews in publications such as Gonzo (circus), Damusic and OOR. Meanwhile, due to Brecht leaving the band and the other members having become young fathers, Tannhauser Orchestra effectively stopped being a live band and concentrated exclusively on studio work.
‘Veneralia’ was released on October 13, 2015. Dark Entries wrote: “With Veneralia , Tannhauser Orchestra have made the ultimate record that perfectly summarizes their career”.
Hiatus and comeback
After a hiatus of four years, Tannhauser Orchestra released a new EP called ‘Songs of Travel and Other Universes’ in 2019. The Blog That Celebrates Itself interviewed the band for the occasion.
That same year, Tannhauser Orchestra started the recording sessions for their sixth studio album ‘The Fade’. Loes Besieux, who has provided artwork for the band’s releases since 2013, officially joined on vocals in 2020. ‘The Fade’ was released in April 2021.
Recent years
Follow-up ‘Spring Rites’ was released in September 2023. In their New and Notable section, Bandcamp wrote “Bright, gorgeous, bashing songs from these Belgian shoegazers that never lose track of melody amidst the waves of distortion.”
In the Spring of 2025, an EP called ‘In Dust We Trust’ was released in preparation for the new full length album ‘Low Tide’, which was subsequently released in May to general acclaim.