Todgeweiht
Pestilenz ()
Wydane przez Vacula ProductionsRok wydania Kraj GermanyNapisał Wouter6
I will never understand why metal musicians continue to pursue numerous side-projects that sound so close to their main band. What is the point? I do understand the appeal of side-projects, as they offer up creative freedom and let those involved cultivate different aspects of their creative personality. So, yeah, Todgeweiht (German for ‘moribund’) is another of those semi-fast, thick black metal acts that go for that Scandinavian sound popularized by Mayhem (“De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”), Setherial (“Lords Of the Nightrealm”, similar usage of eerie melody but much slower) and Emperor (“Wrath Of the Tyrant”.) This band makes no qualms about trying to be original, or deviating from the well-trodden paths of the genre. Some of the faster cuts have that old school black metal thrash vibe that Mayhem mostly had in its “Deathcrush” era. At least they are being honest about their thoroughly derivative nature. I can respect that. Initially this record was meant as part of a split with Wintarnaht, who had released its own “Pestilenz” record in 2007. Principal recordings were done in 2007, but the whole was finished and shoved out of the door 2012 when the proposed split album didn’t materialize. A new song was written and recorded to get to the much desired full length duration and finally this record was released in its current form through Ukrainian label Vacula Productions in late 2012. Some guy from local German underground heroes Chant Of Blasphemy apparently mixed and mastered this record, and that was that. There isn’t much a real difference between Todgeweiht and Wintarnaht, outside of the fact that Todgeweiht is not nearly as atmospheric and based around acoustics. I’m not sure what is wrong with the audio because one of the tracks is swathed in ear-piercing reverb and feedback, almost as it the audio wasn’t properly treated during the recordings. So, yeah – fairly typical for the genre. It ticks all the boxes you expect it does, and it sounds sufficiently grim and necro. Only for die-hard collectors or those who have a keen interest in the in and outs of the German underground scene. I can’t say I was particularly taken by it, but I’m cynical, jaded and grumpy. So don’t take my word for it.
www.vacula.com.ua
