Even without the same projection (and successful praise) of the Norwegian, Swedish, and Greek Black Metal Schools, there are many good acts on Germany playing the genre and offering a different taste of music to the fans (remember: different countries, different expressions, but always the same genre). Maybe there’s an ideology there to keep things into the limits of underground scene, or the School developed a bit later than the previous one (remember²: the earlier you come, the better are you chances for having success), but none of these ideas are saying that very good works on the genre can’t rise on German soil. And to prove it, here is WALDGEFLÜSTER (hailing from Munich) with its new release, “Unter Bronzenen Kronen”. This 4-songs EP depicts a form of Black Metal full of that melancholic and old fashioned appeal of the 90s, with very good bleak and sad melodies that seduces the fans easily.

It seems to bear something brought from Pagan/Folk Black Metal as well (some clean chants heard on “Unter Bronzenen Kronen”, along with some guitar arrangements are depicting such idea), some Gothic-like vocals (hear “The Pit” and you’ll find them) and that horror-like ambiences created by good keyboards touches. All is into the limits of Black Metal, but with a different way and taste. What are you waiting for? Lukas Danninger did the recordings of the drums; Markus Stock (of EMPYRIUM) did the same on the vocals (along with the mixing, mastering and photography). And the sonority of “Unter Bronzenen Kronen” respects the features of a usual Black Metal recording, but allowing things to be understood without great efforts. 

“Unter Bronzenen Kronen” is an EP, but three songs endure more than 5 minutes, but don’t be afraid: you can deal with it easily, for the songs seem to be shorter (due the facts that you won’t be bored, indeed). On the title-track, “Unter Bronzenen Kronen”, one can check the perfect balance between a grasping melancholic appeal with and oppressive Black Metal outfit (exploring some riffs using tremolo picking, as the vocals screams are really very good), but be prepared for some rhythmic shifts. “The Pit” is another moment with a more melancholic outfit, using very good oppressive keyboards and clean vocals (but don’t you dare to not pay attention to the guitars). “Herbst Befiel das Land MMXXIII” is a rerecorded and updated version for the same song of the band’s first album (“Herbstklagen”, released on 2009), showing a more Pagan/Folk Black Metal trend, with a solid rhythmic wall created by bass guitar and drums. And “Black Flies” keeps things in the same way, but pushing things into traditional Black Metal territory in some moments. 

It’s obvious that “Unter Bronzenen Kronen” isn’t the best release of the genre (and it’s not the idea behind it as well), but shows how WALDGEFLÜSTER is honest with its music, fans and ways.