Die Priester ("The Priests") is not just a band name: this vocal group actually consists of three Roman Catholic churchmen who got together to record modernized versions of classic religious-themed songs -- similar to Northern Ireland's
the Priests and France's
les Prêtres.
Spiritus Dei, their debut album, offers songs such as
Smetana's "Die Moldau,"
Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," and
Bach's "Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude", some of them with new or additional lyrics by group member Father Vianney Meister. The record also includes a cover version of
Leonard Cohen's "Halleluja." Apart from the standard CD edition, there is a limited-deluxe edition which adds a DVD containing two additional songs (including a cover of
Xavier Naidoo's "Dieser Weg"), a music video, and a 14-minute making-of clip. ~ Christian Genzel