Since 2009, Germany’s Der Weg Einer Freiheit have been delivering their own brand of black metal and have deservedly built up a legendary status in the extreme metal underground. As such, the release of their fifth studio album was much anticipated. I could not wait to give it a listen and I was not disappointed. Perhaps the most obvious thing after a first listen was that they have really pushed the boundaries of what they do, incorporating clean vocal, acoustic melodies and post metal to a degree which they have not done before, in keeping with the band name which I understand translates to ‘The Way of Freedom’. The title ‘Noktvrn’ gives a clue to some of the influences incorporated onto the album, namely Chopin’s Nocturnes and this is an apparent thread through the album, albeit subtle at times. (The ‘V’ in the title refers to their fifth album rather than an attempt to be ‘Kvlt’!).
The album opens with ‘Finisterre II’, a soothing, but sombre acoustic guitar piece which leads into ‘Monument’ which soon erupts into their familiar, vitriolic black metal. This battering continues on ‘Am Rande der Dunkelheit’ but the savagery is underpinned by sublime sweeping melodies. And then we get to ‘Immortal’…….when I was first listening to this, I had to check the my iPod hadn’t skipped to a different band such is the change in style! This is completely stripped back with clean vocals over a subdued melody and although it does revert back to abrasive vocals in due course, it remains an understated melancholic piece. This is (as far as I can recall) the first time DWEF have used English lyrics, usually preferring their native German, but the softer phonetics of the English language fit well here.
‘Morgen’ and ‘Gegen das Licht’ take us back to the more familiar abrasive black metal style although subtle nuances give each track their own personality, before the album closes with ‘Haven’ with delicate clean vocals (once again in English) and pulsating but simple melodic backline.
This is a band who are evolving and growing with each release and although I am a big fan of their previous albums, I’ll stick my neck out and say this is their best so far.
(9/10 Andy Pountney)
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