The Tale of the Sun
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Dancing Sun is Bert Dittrich's solo progressive metal project from Graz, Austria. Since 2007, the work explores meditation, nature, and the inner journey through sound.
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"What if Metal, Prog, Storytelling and Windsurfing were cooked in a pot?"
A fusion of raw power and contemplative atmosphere. The music creates a landscape where heaviness and introspection coexist, inviting listeners into a space between primal energy and transcendent awareness.
Sound & Influence
"What if Carcass & Dead can Dance had drunken Raki at Crete"
Dancing Sun exists between progressive metal pioneers and conceptual artists. If you've been drawn to Renaissance's epic compositions, Dead Can Dance's ethereal atmospheres, Edge of Sanity's conceptual depth, or Carcass's melodic death metal intensity, you'll recognize familiar territory here. The vocals carry the melancholic intensity of Taneli Jarva's work with Sentenced, creating a bridge between extreme metal and contemplative folk.
Literary References
Lyrics reference writers such as Henry David Thoreau (Walden), Ursula K. Le Guin (Earthsea/Erdsee), and Jakob Lorber. Themes: solitude, self-discovery, humanity's relationship with nature.
Discography
A concept album exploring transformation and elemental power. The work maps an inner journey through the interplay between light and shadow, establishing the foundational sound that would define Dancing Sun's artistic direction.
“Firefable‘s arrangements got stratisfied by dozens of layers. The basic structure of ,Dead Waters’ had been the framework for the ancestry search of my family, which was later fullfilled in „Tree“. Religion, Jeremiah on the one side and the idolatry & arrogance of a religious formation at the other hand worked out for ‘Dead Waters’. I was nearly daring to play the battery myself. I would have released Firefable in 2029, if I wouldn’t have bumped into a sequencer, that met my expectations. What a mixing odyssea? Thanks to walks in forests to stay sane!”
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Firefable (2019)
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Heart Tales (2020)
Eight "personal ribbons of love & desire" through jungle scenes and esoteric visions. Longer tracks allow structural experimentation, ranging from heavy metal passages to jazz-inflected sections. The title track delivers 8:42 minutes of mythic storytelling and emotional catharsis. Featured track ‘Riki Tek's Garden‘ has been described by fans as epic, expansive hard rock pairing post-metal expansiveness with skyscraping vocal melodies.
It is very possible that the Beatles on Acid would have released 'Heart Tales' if they had been windsurfing in Greece and been inspired by Carcass, King Crimson & Dead can Dance.
The first song of the love sessions ‘Fuck the Angst!‘ (inspired by Propagandhi) popped out of the bush fire. Heart Tales, what a cracy fast ride on the storm.
Andi Gassner at the mixing desks, and Tony Lindgren once again at swedish Fascination Street Studios mastering, balanced the multicolored Heart vessel with tons of space atween the surges.
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The Beach Adventure Soundtrack (2020)
The concept is based on a story written during a year spent in a tent at the beach.
"My blessed time in the 'beach academy' was no big thing compared to Tintin's moon exploration, but big enough for my narrow mindset."
The windsurfing metaphor runs throughout: balance against resistance, finding center amid chaos. What remains after struggle—the weathered soul tested by wind and wave, finding strength in its scars. This is the sound of endurance.
Pinball Sun is the second single from the Weathered concept, described as Dancing Sun's most personal adventure concentrating autobiographical storytelling and music in the heart of nature. The Weathered concept consists of a Text and two EPs: The first two Singles ‘Retreat’ & ‘Pinball Sun’ are located as a preface key to the beach adventure. The entire beach tale is offered as a complete narrative arc.
Press
Metal blogs reviewing Heart Tales in 2024-2025 highlighted the seamless blend of progressive metal intensity with psychedelic-rock atmospherics. The Elite Extremophile recognized Dancing Sun among Austria's progressive metal activity, noting the unique fusion of literary ambition and sonic experimentation.
The project was featured on Bandcamp Radio multiple times (July 2021, February 2025). Fans describe the raspy voice as "addictive" and praise the epic, expansive soundscape.
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Ibanez Universe 7 String
Epiphone SG
Gretsch Jet Vintage
Various traditional Strings
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Washburn Bantam
ESP LTD F 5 Strings