Flammentriebe

I thought this album would never happen.

After the entertaining, genre-pushing albums Bitter Ists... and Her Von Welken Nachten, this mighty band took a turn towards the ethereal and ambient pastures that melded well with their style, but left me wanting to some degree. While I could certainly appreciate Hexenwind and Durch den Traum with their slightly shoegazey, thoughtful repetitiveness and slow build into subtle melodies, they had lost some of the life and verve that the earlier albums had. WIth In Luft Geritzt, I had almost abandoned hope.

Three years later, out of nowhere, comes Team Dornenreich with an album that fires on all cylinders: an amalgam of their most aggressive black attacks, and the most thoughtful, melodic sections they are known for (which have more impact here than in recent albums due to their careful placement within songs). They kick off with one of the most intense, attention-grabbing songs they have written in years (Flammenmensch) that blows you away after a brief semi-acoustic lead-in. This is the first song released before the album, and what immediately grabbed me was the completeness it had: the melody and flow of Bitter Ists..., the aggression and dynamics of Her Von Welken..., and the control and atmosphere of their later albums. And the production... WOW! It's amazing how what is easily the best sounding album they have released can highlight the aggressive riffs and dynamic shifts that the other albums had, but did not display like this one does!

Other highlights, in my opinion, are the long centerpiece Wolfpuls, Fahrte der Nacht, and In Allem Weben (my favorite, which encapsulates all I love about this album). I love the vocal delivery in Fahrte der Nachte, and though I am not fluent in German, the storytelling is evident, and conviction is very appealing. This song will definitely appeal to those who loved the Her Von Welken Nachten album. In Allem Weben is the most well-rounded song, with good pace and black metal aggression, along with killer dissonant riffs supported by violin in a way only these guys can pull off. Easily a top Dornenreich song for me. These three songs contain the off-kilter riffing, dynamic vocal attack and unpredictability that I always have enjoyed from this band. They also exhibit the melodic beauty they are capable of, which never comes across as trite or radio-friendly, but embody what black metal can be - the duality of beauty and darkness. The final reflective piece, as another reviewer mentions, has some Agalloch qualities (mostly Mantle-era), but remains distinctly Dornenreich, and finishes the album in a thoughtful manner.

My score reflects the songwriting quality, the sound/production (their best ever), the way they captured all the Dornenreich elements expertly, and the enjoyment factor. I only felt the need to knock off a few points since a couple tracks tend to lose my attention a bit, as they lack a bit of the elusive memorability factor (though are still completely enjoyable to listen to). However, I do disagree with another reviewer about the vocals. I feel that this is the best showing Eviga has ever had, being balanced in his delivery but still displaying his characteristic dynamic, almost eccentric style that differentiates him from a crowded field (and obviously alienates some people that might be less familiar or less flexible in their tastes). His ravings seem to fit the music much more closely now, while one could argue that his earlier efforts felt a little more forced.

I only wish that this album was their swansong, as I have heard some rumours that Freiheit may be their last (though I hope not). This album got right what Freiheit couldn't quite pull off, as it ventured back towards the acoustic/ambient realm a little too far for my tastes. In summary, I think this is my favorite Dornenreich album, next to Bitter Ists dem Tod zu Dienen. Even the album cover hearkens back to the lone, monochromatic figure against an atmospheric landscape that resembles the covers of all my other favorite Dornenreich albums that got the marriage of aggression and subtlety right: Bitter Ists..., Her Von Welken Nachten, and Durch den Traum. Give this one a try if you ever enjoyed the metallic side of Dornenreich, but had given up on them in recent years.