From the land of Endstille and Dark Fortress comes Der Weg einer Freiheit, And like those bands there’s a chill in the air, at least to start with as the fire and smoke and darkness develop over the course of this precise work of black metal engineering. Gone are the days of black metal where raw sounds meant something primeval-sounding. Haunting voices and moaning atmospherics create a funeral feel but “Repulsion” would seem to be a black metal dirge. I say “would seem” because although the vocals have the air of a ritualistic chant, the strong and powerful guitar suggest there’s an imminent explosion. Then the door springs open, and screams are heard amid fiery forces. Yet it’s funereal in tone still. Imperiously, “Repulsion” rings and rages, ending in reflection and sadness. Such an impressive build up, such an impressive first track. This was my welcome to the world of Der Weg einer Freiheit. I wanted to hear more.
There’s no replication of what I heard on “Repulsion” because Der Weg einer Freiheit branch out and have more blackened musical pictures to paint. The darkly beating drum of “Requiem” signals a miserable and wretched scene, but after a majestic start the power level picks up and develops into whirlwind proportions. The vocalist comes in at just the right moment and screams his deathly preachings. Meanwhile an air of sadness slithers through the overt power and violence. Pungent and strong, “Requiem” leaves a massive stench everywhere. A post metal sounding ring imposes itself – it’s powerful stuff indeed – and then as it all threatens to strangle us, the quiet chords of a solitary guitar strike up, inviting us to calmly overlook the preceding scenes of devastation which Der Weg einer Freiheit have just presented to us.
“Einkehr” is yet another monster of a song, characterised by imperial instrumentals, frenetic drumming and furious prolongations from a passionate vocalist. After being swept along, it stops, then we’re swept along again this furious lava flow. I like the intensity and the transformation. And you know where you stand with this. After three long tracks, there’s a shortish blast, as the violent and uncompromising “Verbund” sweeps in. I preferred “Eiswanderer” which follows. Reaching the heights quickly, it slows down. The atmosphere is uncomfortable and scary. The sound control and manipulation is supreme on this album. After the atmospheric section, we are hit hard again with total passion. The crashing intensity continues into “Letzte Sonne” whose prolonged power and majesty generate a deep and threatening atmosphere.
Der Weg einer Freiheit exercise magnificent control of this album’s structure, sound and intensity. By the end of “Stellar” we’ve crossed many dark and turbulent landscapes, but the band have swept us along and guided us through all this vividly. It’s a pleasurable experience.
(8/10 Andrew Doherty)
https://www.facebook.com/derwegeinerfreiheit
Leave a Reply