Eisenkult - ... gedenken wir der Finsternis
Purity Through Fire
Black Metal
8 songs (28')
Release year: 2020
Reviewed by Alex
Surprise of the month

Eisenkult’s origin is not known to me 100%, but them being on Purity Through Fire and the band’s individual members also doubling in Mavorim and Meuchelmord, I am going to guess Germany is the land where Eisenkult comes from. … gedenken wir der Finsternis album title, but most importantly Germanic melodies in Deprecatio and title track cement my guess. My German non-existent I was thankful to Google translate to hint that the title stands for something like Commemorate (or Commemoration) of Darkness. Expecting the affair after that to be raw and bloody, I was quite surprised and taken aback as how … gedenken wir der Finsternis actually unfolded.

Intense lower register layered full synth Intro plunges the listener somewhere into an ambient meadow, yet the one located in the vicinity of the medieval ancient castle. This feeling of ambient, rustic duality doesn’t let go throughout … gedenken wir der Finsternis, whether the tracks are full on synth, like Intro and Outro, open up with this forceful clavesin approach (Deprecatio) or play out as Beethoveny piano Interlude. The bulk of the album, however, is black metal, dark for sure, but not beating you up in a pulp. Stahlross may be blasting and bottomless, with no treble note in sight, throbbing and pulsating, but Eisenkult true arrival is on Deprecatio, with the opening riff to cherish. Deprecatio throbs and pulsates also, but the music now is much more balanced between frequencies, proud Germanic melodies emerge and propulsion ever forward doesn’t seize until final keyboard blurbs. Title track is the same, with clavesin giving way to thrashy hints, dissolving into something more ambient, euphoric, pastoral and rural, yet something from centuries ago nonetheless.

Ein endloses Nichts may fly through on the blastbeat wings, but Auf Schwarzen Schwingen, just like Deprecatio and title track describes Eisenkult the best. These are minstrels of the years long past, who broke the mold and wanted to play something bestial, something with a nasty thrashy twist. And all the while they did it, they kept passing by bucolic quieter villagers who stood by, jaws agape, surprised by the darkness felt by these before-their-time peers.

A very interesting combo black metal, which doesn’t last long, but is very distinct and has unique character – this is the best description of Eisenkult on … gedenken wir der Finsternis, wherever they come from.

Killing Songs :
Deprecatio, … gedenken wir der Finsternis, Auf Schwarzen Schwingen
Alex quoted 82 / 100
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