Leichenzug

Qayin was formed by two members of German black metal band Das Zwielicht, Geist and Aschefrühling. While the band's current status is questionable, they current have two demos, 2011's Leichenzug and 2012's Trauma, which were limited to thirty-three copies a piece. The band hasn't really been heard from since the release of Trauma, which isn't all that surprising given the material that I've listened to on Leichenzug.

The band claims to be “true nihilistic black metal”, so I was expecting some type of Mgła worship on Leichenzug, but instead the band brings some form of sort of depressive, sort of ambient, choppy black metal that really lives a sour taste in my mouth. The recorded quality is purposely grainy and chaotic, as the guitar riffs and vocals are buried beneath a constantly swirling wall of noise and atmospheric keyboard flourishes. The clanging cymbals and constantly jerky percussion keep things moving forward, because the trem riffing really isn't able to carry things here. Even when concentrating on the riffing, all the while attempting to ignore the mass of noise in the way, it all sounds weak and flaccid. The riffs have no power, sounding like noodly impressions of the second wave.

I guess the entire demo isn't completely laughable, as the stomping mid-tempo pace of the closing track surges and swells, with a slight spattering of keys and garbled, groaning shouts. Unfortunately for the band, that closing track wasn't even written by them, as it's a cover of Carpathian Forest's classic “Journey Through the Cold Moors of Svarttjern”. It's not quite as gripping as the original and the atmosphere seems rather forced, but it's miles ahead of the rest of the demo.

It's hard to tell what audience would really want to hear this and I have a hard time believing the band was able to sell all thirty-three copies of this. I guess it's interesting if you want to hear a band attempt a classic Carpathian Forest track, but aside from that the music doesn't really do anything except exist. Waffly trem riffing; choppy percussion; piss poor songwriting: it all adds together for an easily avoidable demo.