Antikult

Fäulnis's latest album, Antikult, is, to say the least, a journey into the heart of punk rock-infused black metal. Dark yet mesmerizing, even sort of hypnotizing. 2017 was a weird year for metal; I only ever listened to this album and Power Trip's Nightmare Logic. Anyway, the German band's latest (and last) album showcases a commitment to depression, meaningless existence, and "low-life arrogance," as Fäulnis themselves like to say it. All while still injecting fresh nuances of creativity.

The album kicks off in a rock and punk manner before absolutely blowing up to black metal, accompanied by Seuche's shrieks and Niklas Kvarforth-like "talking" lyrics. It is a swift track that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time, being an interesting mix of all the heavy genres, ending with black'n'roll before the album escorts us to the next track.

Antikult weaves together various genres, including elements of doom, rock, and traditional black metal, precisely like the title suggests. The album maintains a strong and full-bodied sound along with its nice and full production throughout its 39-minute duration. Showcasing the band's distinctive identity, as there are very, very few bands I can name that sound similar to Fäulnis, one of them being the prog-black sound of Shining or Bethlehem's aggressive songs from Mein Weg.

The album is about 50/50 between traditional black metal and punk-infused doom metal. An example of the latter one is the second track, "Block 19, Mahlstrom," which incorporates a more "whiny" vocal style, which might come across as annoying. An example on the more aggressive black metal side of this record would be the 100% blast beat song "Kadaver," which very rarely slows down and is the fastest song on this record.

Lyrically, Antikult delves into themes of decay, misanthropy, and the total rejection of societal norms, which, granted, is typical of black metal's philosophical points. Although upon interviewing Benjamin (Seuche), he said Fäulnis' lyrics are depressing, yes, but it's less "kill yourself now" and more "there's a lot of shit in the world, deal with it." Last point: the lyrics, which are in German, add an extra layer of authenticity and distinction to the overall experience of Antikult. If you are not fluent in German like me, Google Translate is your friend.

In conclusion, Antikult stands as an outstanding addition to Fäulnis's short but sweet discography. It definitely pushes black metal's boundaries, making it a must-listen for fans of more atmospheric or experimental metal. For close-minded, die-hard black metal purists, stay away from this record.

Highlights: Metropolis, Galgen kein humor, Kadaver, Der könig