After 2006’s Andacht, I began a quest to complete the discography of Lunar Aurora and review them all on MR. I am about halfway through the reviews and now miss the most recent and the rarest of all Lunar Aurora albums, one that I could acquire if I had the funds for such frivolous expenditures. Most recent is the type of word in reference to such a legendary band that could inspire shudders of excitement. Lunar Aurora are probably my favorite band of all time (no, not Cannibal Corpse ).

So when I heard “indefinite hiatus” as their status it likely meant the end of an era. Lunar Aurora are a criminally underappreciated band and anyone that has not shelled the usual $20 to bolster their collection with any one of their masteries of the genre cannot truly call themselves kvlt. So FINALLY the brothers Whyrd and Aran emerge with their newest offering, Hoagascht.

The band proudly claim on their Cold Dimensions website that Hoagascht is lyrically arranged in an Upper-Bavarian dialect. As a result the translation has stumped everywhere I have checked online. Without continuously gushing over the excitement of a new album, let us get into the meat and potatoes of Hoagascht and what it comprises as an album.

One of the defining features of Lunar Aurora is that they still possess an aura of mysticism in this day and age, where books are passed through email and doctrine is officiated at light speed. Little is known about them, which creates a fascination with them for anyone curious enough to delve into the darkness of Black Metal. The finest facet of the band is that every album is different, whether it be the droning of Zyklus, the savagery of Mond or the entrancing melodies and spellbinding arrangements that make up the epic Andacht. Lunar Aurora has found ways to alter their sound but not their identity. Every album cover is spine tingling, every song is chilling and cold, and every lyrical weave, despite its loss in translation, has meaning not in word but in spirit. Hoagascht sort of reminds me of the differentiation between the works of Burzum before and after prison. It is still the classic sound of the band, but a celestial bind that creates a mind boggling atmosphere that surrounds the listener with a frigid cold within the Bavarian countryside that comprises the dwelling of Whyrd and Aran. The band aren’t secretive for the sake of it like those wildly talented but pretentious hippies that comprise the Cascadian scene. Before anyone reads on, let me just say that while Hoagascht may be a great album, it is a departure from Andacht and is not as good, or even close as the perfect hundred I gave to Andacht.

That being said, Hoagascht is chilling in its own way. If Andacht was a vast mountainous soundscape synonymous with speed and barbarism, Hoagascht is a dark force creeping through the Black Forest with no form or definitie features. The album cover is simple enough, with the logo, a strip of forest land, and what looks like a barn owl descending towards its prey. This album has a lot more keyboards in it, but instead of providing an overarching, symphonic feel to it, it instead provides a horrifying backdrop. The lyrics are extremely dark and foreboding to go along with a buzzing guitar and a warm drum tone. The first track is much of an introduction with substance, Im Gartn shows the intent of the album, as not much changes yet each song has its own display of talent.

It’s obvious that the band did not care about showing their exorbitant skill, but wanted to create a chilling atmosphere with minor thirds and deep, earthy vocals. The next real killing song is Sterna, which shows signs of pace but once past this track it becomes clear that there are little to no blast beats in the album. None of the songs are of ridiculous length, in fact, all the tracks clock in between 5:23 and 7:44, with little variations. This is an album you have to hear for yourself. It is likely a combination between the ideals behind Zyklus and the extremely rare (and proudly owned) Elixir of Sorrow. The band sought not to dazzle and surprise but remind the world of Black Metal that Lunar Aurora are very much still alive and kicking, with the sinister vibe that may have taken time off from the studio but never from the hearts in the moonlit forests of Bavaria.