ANDE is a one band Black Metal "band" from Belgium.  I always mention this when I review Black Metal bands that are just one person but...why are they always so great?  Seriously, as of right now, I cannot name a one-man Black Metal band that I don't like.  Is it the purity of it all, not having to listen to the ideas of others?  The ideas being the singular vision of one person?  I don't have the answers.  I just know ANDE's "Vossenkuil," is yet another album from a single madman that can be added to the pile of "bad ass one-person band" albums I have piling up.

"Vossenkuil," ANDE's third full length, is an atmospheric record with several of the songs consisting of a lot of depth, nook and crannies to enjoy.  It presents a multitude of different moods across the album's eight track, 42-minute runtime.  Moments of pure, outright fury are engaged many times but these moments also find themselves sharing the stage of slower, more mid paced atmospheric sheen.  Beautiful passage, melodic riffs can all be found here scattered among the blackened shrieks and barrages of drums.

The first track, "Aanvang," is an intro that is laden with soft tones and the barest of drums. It washes over as serene, oceanic wave that flows into the first full length track, "Nachtwandeling." This particular song is the exact opposite of its predecessor: instant speed and fury explode the track outward and lead into melodic but thick riffs.  The drums and vocals work very well with these electric passage, all three ramping up in quick bursts of energy before melding back into the main riff. Slow groove with some ambient noises break up the mood around the 3:20 mark before song ramps up again.  The latter half of the song is laced with a wonderful guitar solo, backed by the dense rhythm section.  The song ends with a monolithic passage, complete with swirling lead harmonies.

The next track, "Beverdansen," begins with some progressive tinges that remind me of modern ENSLAVED and some spoken word to go along with it. This particular movement builds up intensity over the next seconds, the riffs growing more sinister while the drums also kick up their own intensity.  The guitar tone in this song is extremely impressive-very forceful but not overly aggressive.  At the song's halfway point, the tempo drops down for a melodic and atmospheric passage is deeply emotional.  This too gives away to some almost sludge style blackened riffs as the song shifts gears back into those sinister, groove laden riffs to end the song.

I've never heard of LUGUBRUM so I cannot comment how well this cover of "Mijn koninkrijk van groen" is compared to the original song but the song sounds right at home on this album.  The riffs have a similar feel to the band's style and the overall mid paced but melodic sound is perfect for the album's flow. "Sneeuw Op Her Meer," is probably the darkest song on the album, especially in the first minute or so.  The vocals are lower pitched to compliment the riffs that are on the lower end as well.  The song flows well in of itself, picking up speed slightly throughout the track before going balls out around the four-minute mark.

I will say that some of the tracks, such as "Eeuwig Vuur," and "Afsluiting," feel like they could have been more.  They are good songs and both fit well into the album when listened to from beginning to end but on their own they sound like smaller pieces that belong to a greater whole that is never presented. ANDE's "Vossenkuil," is another win for the Atmospheric Black Metal subgenre and there isn't any reason for fans of the style to not check it out!