AMENRA DO RITUALS * *(For real)

During the first World War, the Belgian city of Diksmuide in West Flanders was reduced to ruins after a series of attacks and bombings. Many people there had already lost fathers and sons to the war, and now they had to rebuild their homes and their lives – to find the strength to keep going.

In 2018, a special event was held in Diksmuide to mark the centenary of the war ending. The artistic spectacle was held in the market square of the city, and included Swiss–German dancer Imre Thormann and a live performance by Belgian five-piece Amenra. It was the beginning of the band’s journey towards what would become their new, seventh album, De Doorn.

“We were contacted by the city and asked [to participate],” explains Amenra frontman Colin