I’ve not given Germany’s Firtan much listening since they formed over a decade ago where they subsequently released a couple of EPs and two full lengths. Their last album ‘Okeanos’ was a fine a release however and catching them in 2019 at the Warhorns festival showcased their ability perfectly with a battering and exhilarating performance. Four years on and they have released their exceptional and astounding third album of blitzing epic finesse.
Opener ‘Faðir’ flawlessly demonstrates what makes Firtan so interesting to listen to, their ability to intertwine obsidian malice with fluidised tempo dynamics is wholly satisfying, the way they shower every song with cascading causticity is colossal as the opener proves and its follower ‘Amor Fati’ continues. At nine minutes plus ‘Amor Fati’ is an epic construction but still retains a seamless catchiness within its barbaric assault, where hues of intensity blanket its length and I’d even say there is a slight post-rock theme in the music at times.
There’s little to fault or criticise with the album as it continues with ‘Labsal’, its ferocious blasted malevolence at times comes across as a dissonant demolition but is highly controlled. Listening to this album immerses you in the Firtan world, bedazzling sonic images drift through its duration with a blackened malice radiating from its riffs and hostile vocals, yet it also offers something of an eloquent touch too, be it ambient phases that accompany the odd track or the emotive choral like vocals that have a slight monastic toning, as on ‘Lethe’. There are Pagan qualities too crafted via the vocal styles but also the teeming atmospherics that adorns the start of ‘Parhella’, with its scintillating strings and copious elements each as addictive as the next.
There are plenty of bands with similar styles such Regarde Les Homme Tomber, Agrypnie and to some extent Anomalie, but like those acts Firtan have their own identity carved out through their ambitious and esoteric song writing captured superbly in ‘Odem’ with its piercing guitar work and deft melodies. Occasionally with albums clocking near the hour mark there is a tendency for things to fade out a little either in the middle of towards the end, but not ‘Marter’, the unerring momentum never slackens, never weakens and if anything become stronger on the closing two tracks starting with ‘Menetekel’, another epic piece of black metal, with crushing density and thoroughly hate-filled vocals. The acoustic sequence is a nice touch, plunging the song into a foreboding sorrowful aura before it reasserts with its rage saturated nihilism. Closing song ‘Peraht’ continues the quality right until the end with a semi acoustic beginning linking into the tracks epic pagan credentials melded to the onslaught of blasted speed. The riff changes run rife as the vocals display inherent tonal gradations brilliantly making the closer an absolute beast.
A stunning third album from Firtan that fans of the pagan and atmospheric black metal genres should check out.
(9.5/10 Martin Harris)
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