Yes indeedy, things do not get much more Germanic than this. Hailing from deepest darkest Bavaria Draumar is the name of this project as well as the assumed moniker of the main man behind it, the person we are told who is both young and very talented. The first fact is not in dispute, the second, well guess I shall be the judge of that. Gebirge is a four track EP and follows on from a couple of albums the last of which Ein Wintermärchen it suddenly clicks with me that I reviewed on its release back in 2010. Reading back (and sure the memory is shot) I vaguely remember this. At the time I said that it was “highly atmospheric, nature inspired and indeed pine scented metal.” Listening to the EP, yes I can certainly see and hear that. The thaw has now occurred however and the ice and snow covered peaks are now barren tough hewn rocks and never ending forests, the cover art work shows this and suits the dramatic music within perfectly.
Instrumental tracks open and close this EP, the first is Auftakt a filmic and very pastoral affair. Ambient passages build into orchestral parts with birds tweeting and a very natural feel behind it, you are aware though that this is all going to develop into something much more epic and it is the calm before the storm. Then choral chants pave the way for the main emphasis the two part ‘Gebirge’ (mountains) which builds with booming drum rolls and hefty snare clashes. There are both whispered vocals that remind a little of Dornenreich and then more pronounced rasps and the whole thing builds with symphonic might that certainly brings to mind Summoning. Lush guitar parts shimmer and you are kind of entranced by the dreamlike flow of things by now and enraptured by the whispering voice that is like mist, jousting with the music. Keyboards add an eerie amorphous shroud of it all heightening the melody and adding to the entrancement, this is pretty magical stuff. Sorrowful piano and acoustic guitar do nothing to bring us out of this enraptured state and add fragility to Gebirge II. Electric guitars, drums and rasps see the track opening up at a slow yet majestic pace and the addition of flute is the topping on it all. The folk like lament is excellently composed and has a real medieval feel to it, this is music that you cannot help closing eyes to and imagine times long past, ones not blighted by present day trappings of technology with everything hurtling past at a million miles an hour.
By the time we are chilled not in ice but the warming hopeful spring like caress of final number Gipfelstürmer there is no doubt that Draumar is certainly a talented composer and hopefully one who by the time his more orchestral and Wagnerian full length album arrives next year will not have been forgotten so easily. Right, time to go and track down ‘Ein Wintermärchen’ for a repeat listen.
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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