Despite the fact that I am a massive fan of Death Metal and despite the fact that Iron Maiden are the greatest band to have ever existed if someone asked me to describe Metal I would probably show them raw untamed Black Metal. Nothing encompasses the extremity of Metal quite like it from the muddy production values to the gritty noise ridden riffs Black Metal is the ultimate genre for elitism and a showcase of trve underground Metal.
Riding in on those wings of raw power come the German horde of Schrat, having formed in 2003 the bands history has been long and seemingly pretty tiresome given the lack of releases since their inception. However the time has come for the follow up to the 2011 full length Schattenwahn, the time has come for Alptraumgänger to unleash its Blackened fury upon the unsuspecting pests of the Black Metal world.
Alptraumgänger is true to the very core even its brief instrumental sections are drab, grisly and grim but its the Metal we want. A horrific mixture of nasty ice cold riffs and dissonant, ritualistic vocals make up a truly abhorrent sound that reeks of purist underground filth. Gräberland even injects a Crust Punk style venom into the fray of chaotic warfare, whether this style of sound was intentional I don’t know but it sure works and makes this album all the more repugnant in its sodden manner.
One thing is rather idiosyncratic however and that is the second half of that album which entirely comprises of live recordings, all of which can be found on previous EPs/ full lengths, granted not live. Although this is slightly disheartening it is a good way of encapsulating new fans and I found the rugged nature of the live sound to be pretty aggressive and trve, so I guess in some sense it works however it is a shame that Schrat couldn’t make this release more unique.
Negativity aside Alptraumgänger is a very strong album of seeping Black Metal fit for the trvest of the trve a Blackened gallop into oblivion through murky instrumentation and ghastly musicianship that draws you in and closer to the sound of the underground. In all honesty I find it quite staggering that Schrat aren’t a bigger name in the Black Metal world, do yourself a favour and pick up Alptraumgänger
(8/10 George Caley)
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