Three bands form the inner core of what Black Metal stands for as a Metal genre: VENOM, BATHORY and HELLHAMMER (and its later incarnation, CELTIC FROST, as well). The shrieked tunes of the vocals, the ‘lo-fi’ sonorities, the somber hooks inherited from Punk Rock and Hardcore, and more elements are their offerings. But it must be said that MAYHEM, SARCÓFAGO, ROTTING CHRIST, BURZUM, DARKTHRONE, EMPEROR, DISSECTION, MARDUK, IMMORTAL, ENSLAVED, IMPALED NAZARENE, NECROMANTIA, VARATHRON, ABSU and others are important pioneers of the Second Wave, and that they recreated the formulas of the ancients with important musical contributions. And all musical loads of them is seminal for the German one man band SELTSAME ERDEN, as heard on the band’s first album, “Gedankentempeln”.

The recording, mixing and mastering of the songs are signed by (((CYPHX-AUDIO))), and the main idea was to use a traditional model into Black Metal: moldy and aggressive, with that chilling instrumental tunes heard during the slower moments (as heard on “Gedankentempeln”). It means that the choice is a filthy sonority, but that works for making the band’s music tasteful, and it’s defined for the sake of the hearers’ understanding. And the graphic presentation is a combination of works of Nox Fragor Art (for the logo), Belial NecroArts (on the art for the cover) and Tryfar (on the layout). Musically, the idea of L. (the sole member of the band, and who plays on NEKUS, PUTRIDARIUM and CLOUDBREAKER) is to create a somber and old fashioned form of Black Metal with deep roots on the Second Wave of the 90s, with a simple technical approach and an aggressive energy flowing from the songs. It can sound fast and nasty (as heard on “Zwiegestalt”) or in a slower and funereal form (again, a hearing on “Gedankentempeln” will depict such thing). It’s not something new or a revolution into what Black Metal delivers, but’s truly very good and keeps the old flame of the genre burning alive.

It can sound a bit nostalgic for those who lived and witnessed the rise and success of the Second Wave and the songs of “Gedankentempeln” will impose a massive crush, especially on songs as “Zwiegestalt” (a song based on simple speed of early Black Metal tempos of the Second Wave, with aggressive and hooking guitar riffs), “Gedankentempeln” (with funeral slow parts and dense morbid ambiences, where the shrieked tunes of the vocals and cause chills in the listeners), “Jenseits der Menschen” (another funeral slow song with disturbing arrangements, but with contrasts with faster moments on the guitars), and “Tenebrae” (again the band uses a traditional fast speed of Black Metal, with a simple and heavy work on bass guitar and drums).

Of course, “Gedankentempeln” is the band’s debut and more can be expected in the future. But for now, it must be said that SELTSAME ERDEN is here to keep Black Metal as traditional as it can be.