Klabautamann
The Old Chamber ()
Wydane przez Zeitgeister Music Distribution/The End RecordsRok wydania Kraj GermanyNapisał Wouter8
The Zeitgeister Music clan of musicians are a beacon of originality, courage and creativity in a scene increasingly and alarmingly stagnant of original thought and interpretation of established genre motifs and tropes. While the Zeitgeister acts all shares the same foundation each entity represents a different aspect of the musicians involved. Inarguably, Klabautamann is the most black metal oriented of these outfits while remaining progressive in varying degrees, Owl is a pure old school death/doom entity recalling the old masters, Ekpyrosis is a far less conventional and more atmospheric doom affair, Valborg represents the epic, heroic dark metal element of their canon while Woburn House is a far more laidback ponderous introspective doom metal of sort unit, reminding of Type O Negative. Klabautamann is a band that never repeats itself, and those expecting a carbon copy of 2008’s masterfully crafted and highly atmospheric “Merkur” surely are in for a surprise. “The Old Chamber” isn’t a progressive, semi-jazzy black metal record with a great feeling for Northern darkness and desolation, but instead strips down on all excessive elements and takes things back to their very basics. Depending entirely on the listener’s individual preference this is either strengthening or detrimental to their musical package. Where “Merkur” alternated harsh black metal with jazzy passages and technical segments, where acoustics juxtaposed electronic sections and where the vocals were alternately harsh and emotional, “The Old Chamber” is more straightforward in a number of ways. First thing to notice is that the song structures are far more compact, conventional and to-the-point excising most excursions into ambitious jazzy, acoustic and technical sections. The moody black metal atmosphere has been toned down considerably and while black metal remains the general direction there’s an increased leaning towards desolate doom metal. The acoustics remain present, but are more background elements instead of focal points as with “Merkur”. A track as ‘The Crown Of the Wild’ recalls this band glorious, not too distant past. The title cut is an emotional acoustic guitar piece that could have been culled off any early 1990’s Swedish death metal record. The sorrowful piano line in ‘Death’s Canvas’ also adds a lot of character and emotional depth to an otherwise strong and focused track. The vocal stylings and riffing remains thoroughly Scandinavian black metal and while not nearly as progressive as the preceding record, “The Old Chamber” excels in its simplicity of form and its sincerity of intent. It becomes more and more difficult to find honest music in a genre flooded by products borne out of economic necessity rather than artistic progression and merit. The Zeitgeister Music clan is a welcome breath of fresh in a genre oversatured with the mediocre, the third generation copies or tribute/worship acts. As such Klabautamann or any of this label’s other acts come highly recommended.
www.zeitgeistermusic.com
