Urfaust are one of my favourite bands. Am I sad they’ve split up? Yes. Am I sad they’ve split up? No. Am I sad they’ve split up?
I don’t know.
I mean I’m still mourning Isis, 13 years later. But, I think on the metal scene, and particularly black metal, we tend to have a more nonchalant attitude towards bands splitting up. It happens all the time, be them big or small names, and band devotion isn’t even that much of a thing here (I’m looking at you copious Burzum, Hate Forest, and KPN t-shirt wearers – are you really that much into them or are you just edgelords?). What I’m trying to say is, it’s okay for big black metal names of legendary talent and unique styles to split up. This is not kpop, they’re all humans with jobs and private lives, and aside from the post-capitalist wage slavery we’re all subjected to, are unlikely to be involved in slave contracts with their recording companies (although intellectual property is a different matter altogether).
But, I digress.
Untergang is another brilliant album from Urfaust. Obviously, I’m biased, but their esoteric mid-tempo wall of sound is just that uncommon and pleasing. Similar bands in their genre, be it Nightbringer, The Ruins of Beverast, Blut Aus Nord, etc, seem to be unable to devote themselves quite so wholeheartedly to the altar of mid-tempo, and that’s what sets Urfaust apart so much. Pure atmosphere rather than speed. And unique layered vocals. Mamma Mia, what a combo. Chef’s kiss!
Untergang has certainly been another great mid-tempo altar conjuration, with the pace remaining quite stable throughout. That’s not to say it’s samey. But I don’t think it’ll ever be an album where the tracks could be listened to separately from the whole. And, at a very respectable average of 5:32 minutes per piece, why should they? Although, for personal reasons, I will be listening a lot to Abgrund. Sue me.
Now, as biased as I am, I do think Untergang doesn’t display Urfaust’s full potential. The vocals are a lot more minimal than needed, and the layering and instrumentation could have been taken up a notch. Yet, it’s still an utterly beautiful album from start to finish, and an exceptionally talented last hoorah from the Dutch masters.
(8/10 The Flâneur)
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