There has been an unquestionable progression by this German band since their debut EP ‘Elemental Fury’ released in 2018 where their unremitting raw fury has been somewhat smoothed over to produce a far more scintillating polished debut full length. Both musicians, Stríð and Plágan, within Kankar have amplified their song writing prowess hundred fold yet still retaining a burning corrosive malice embedded within every track. There is an old school nostalgia too brandishing a contemporary factor that modern extreme metal absolutely requires to stay relevant as the album begins with some thunder and rainfall sound effects on ‘Geir’, that for once I actually appreciated and not some clichéd tacky offering that can often feel banal. As those opening effects dissolve an acoustic guitar piece filters through sublimely allowing the metal and drum work to create a grandiose flurry and the most noticeable facet that greets you about this album compared to the EP is the substantial production. It is colossal, a vast expansive sonic landscape that submerges with every instrument layered superbly as the vocals create mood driven theatrics at every opportunity from deathly bellows to cleaner pagan wails.

‘Zerfall Des Lichts’ is epic on every level with an isolated guitar riff briefly beginning the songs blackened malfeasance before the drums smash into the song. The subtle riff change is fabulous something this album is saturated with as the pace changes are subtly ingrained linked to those pagan vocals traits that I particularly enjoyed on the album. ‘Vergeltung’ really caught my ear because it reminded me of one of their compatriot acts Imperium Dekadenz, though maybe not as grandiose, it certainly has a catchy hook I found addictive and at times possessing a heavy metal bravado especially when the vocals take on a clean bearing.

With a desolate isolated guitar riff ‘Thüringer Schwarzmetall’ reeks of pagan credentials right up until the detonating blackened blast and scathing vocals that glisten with salivating malice, though even here there is a hue of catchiness within the riffing. Creepy and dripping with eeriness ‘Festmahl Für Die Krähen’ had me thinking about Czech band Root partially because of the Gothic nature of the vocals where they take on a groaning nature that Big Boss adopts but underpinning the music is that obsidian perniciousness of course as the song morphs cohesively through its kaleidoscopic violence as ‘Pilgerreise’ follows contrasting with its acoustic guitar work. The abrupt explosion is sends you reeling such is the force as the razoring riff slashes outwards with acidic ferocity yet it has a smooth glacial icy power too as those pagan clean vocals filter through brilliantly.

Closing the album is the excellent title track and even though the song is less than four minutes it comes across as epic being packed with musicality. Opening with acoustic guitar again the song flashes in the metal component with half blasted momentum and dramatic poise where the light double kick adds weight and gravity to the highly charged riffing backdrop. The surging riffs and emotive vocals add their own sense of theatre to the songs sense of thrilling melodrama, especially when the song drops back to the acoustic phrasing in the middle building to the song and the albums stupendous climactic finale.

(8.5/10 Martin Harris)

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