Todtgelichter - Schemen

\r\nThis German Hamburg-based band comes forth with its third release, entitled "Schemen". An exceptional most of the times black metal output with a spooky, hair-raising atmosphere and an inferior sound. Most of the songs have rather a very long duration with a special attention to track "Aschentraum", which is over ten minutes and the longest piece of the album with vigorοus guitar lines, an atmospheric attitude, mid tempo drumming, some piano lickings and an unexpected insertion of a saxophone solo just after the middle of the song reminding a little bit of similar sonically approaches from Hungarians Sear Bliss. But what really defines Todtgelichter’s music is a close look upon Burzum’s aesthetic black metal. This north German quintet combines the dark atmosphere with a sluggish monotony and whipping, misanthropic aggression. Riffs are often established in simple power chords and mostly they extend in a hypnotic rhythm whilst the guitars are very raw and distorted and have a clear and razor sharp sound and they work more as an expression of melody than to just create a way to show intensity. Vocals are as usual the torn-out throat of a desperate spirit and hate filled. The drums keep their elaboration in a minimalistic layer establishing and maintaining the mood. Advancing to the compositions they are aggressive and dripping with abhorrence but they can create wonderful melodies throughout the album as well. Some example are the songs "Larva" with a very inspiring guitar work united with racing blastbeat parts, "Blutstern" which is a wonderful black metal assault with an atrocious riff and a battering ram of blastbeats and "Hammer" which is a powerful up tempo composition with ripping vocals and an initial rage that turns out into a melancholic sound structure. While the album ends in the same way it begins with an atmospheric track "Beginn des Endes" equipped with a clean woman voice. Overall, the repetitive style in Todtgelichter’s music surely isn’t for everyone since it may become tedious but if you are fans of Burzum’s simple patterns and basic hypnotic motion then listen to this band from Germany. The production tends more to a demo work but other than that this album can truly communicate with your uneasy black metal spirit and gain possession of your internal sense of nihilism and to your holding that all values are baseless. \r\n

\r\n

\r\nVaso "Necromass" Prassa \r\n

\r\n