Nur ein Moment...

My feelings toward post-black metal have often been fraught with difficulty, since I appreciate the introspective and emotional aspects of the style, but feel that too many bands do basically the same thing in terms of dynamics and songwriting. Principally that’s because post-black strips black metal of many of its options, tending towards shifts between heavy and light textures with a noticeable contrast in emotion between them. Frigoris most closely qualify as post-black metal on Nur ein Moment… (and besides were signed to Hypnotic Dirge Records, who have released a truckload of the stuff), though their sound features a few differences from the standard approach mentioned above. Perhaps it’s because they come from Germany rather than North America as with many of the Hypnotic Dirge stable, perhaps also because they evolved from a rather different tradition of black metal (pagan style); whichever is true, they manage to stand out a bit in my view.

Certainly one standout for me is that the dynamics of the songs are multidirectional, so that instead of building from calm post-rock into gnashing black metal or merely putting calm interludes in the middle of pieces - something I find a lot in None and Alcest, to name 2 examples from opposite ends of the spectrum - Frigoris structure their songs more naturally. On this third album, it helps that all the cuts are pretty long, exceeding 8 minutes except for the instrumental closer, meaning that there’s the possibility of developing more sections without rushing. Besides, only 6 songs lowers the chance of repetition. Probably it also makes a difference that I’m coming from the black metal side of the equation and Frigoris are not afraid to alter the actual heavy components, venturing through some blastbeat material, vocally dominated passages, and even epic riffs like that occupying the early section of ‘Lichtträger’. Finally, the group has a secret weapon that they seldom use but which works effectively, namely the cello that their bass player occasionally inserts into the softer sections, as can be heard during the long opener ‘Et in Arcadia Ego’. I do hear plenty of clean guitar passages too, which can be tedious for metal fans of some persuasions, though that extra ingredient helps make the overall experience more palatable.

That doesn’t mean that enormous amounts separate Frigoris from their peers in terms of quality or overall impression. I still regard Nur ein Moment… as a listen better suited to atmospheric pursuits, something that I would put on while writing or reading, or at least exercising instead of strongly concentrating on the material. Some may feel differently, because the album certainly includes gripping passages, although these long songs tend to rest on a single movement for quite a while and therefore should relax the listener’s mind instead of exciting it. Additionally, Frigoris present their ideas as a whole band, without much time for lead instruments or individual focus, something that the preponderance of harsh vocals and subtle dual guitar riffs ensures across most of the listen. The riffing style that I mention makes use of post-rock techniques in part, fortunately less obviously than some other projects I could name. From my point of view, 52 minutes just about touches my limit, even if ‘Station’ acts as an instrumental ballad (with climax in the middle) to end things on a different, if melancholy, note.