Auf sumpf'gen Pfaden

Urda Sot

Formed in Germany in 2019, URDA SOT is a new Atmospheric Black Metal band who […]
November 18, 2021
Urda Sot - Auf sumpf'gen Pfaden album cover

Formed in Germany in 2019, URDA SOT is a new Atmospheric Black Metal band who prefers to remain anonymous. This is their debut album release, and contains six tracks. "Morgentau" leads off the album. It is a low and slow type of song, with just enough sonority to make it register. Ambient tones occupy the background, along with some key notes here and there. The mood is solemn and pensive. "Vereinigung" is an eleven-minute opus, beginning with more of those solemn tones and even some jovial tones. Vocals come in along with distorted guitars, amidst the steady pacing of clean guitars. It takes a darker turn towards the half-way mark, then drops back to whispers and clean guitars.

"Wandern" is another lengthy track, that begins with clean guitars and the steady thumping of bass guitars. It grows in intensity towards the middle of the song, with some spoken words. It drops and then picks back up again, swelling with sonority, especially in the percussion. The vocals take a back seat as it swells. "Karrenzug" is a shorter song where most of the focus is on the atmosphere developing. It stays under the radar for much of the length of the song. "Käfig" is another lengthy song, clocking in at close to ten minutes in length. It develops a harrowing but charming sound at the same time, as if you exited in two opposite worlds. I love the bass notes in this song, which is something that you often can't make out in the world of Black Metal. It comes to a barren crescendo towards the end, with a harrowing scream.

"Niedersinken" is a long closing song, beginning with slower, more easy listening tones. Soon enough, distorted guitars come in, but the solemn nature of the song continues. Is there sadness or despair? I will let the listener decide. Coming up on the half-way mark, the sound drops to clean guitars and soft winds. Amidst the clean tones, anguished screams can be heard. Is this the end of the world? The increase in intensity continues towards the end, then drops again, leaving you to question your fate. Clean tones take the album to completion, and we may never have an answer to the previous question.

Overall, the album was different in scope than many Black Metal albums out there. I have heard many an Atmospheric Black Metal album in my time, but this one is creative and dares to further the genre a bit. You can feel more of the emotions that the band is trying to get across, and the whispered vocals allow the music to be heard more. A pretty solid listen overall.

7 / 10

Good

Songwriting

7

Musicianship

6

Memorability

7

Production

7
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"Auf sumpf'gen Pfaden" Track-listing:

1. Morgentau
2. Vereinigung
3. Wandern
4. Karrenzug
5. Käfig
6. Niedersinken

Urda Sot Lineup:

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