Resonance - Pestilential Shadows - Rauhnåcht
- Sparky
- Aug 24
- 2 min read
Pestilential Shadows – Wretch 9/10
Since 2003, Australia’s Pestilential Shadows have been at the forefront of the Australasian Black metal movement. Each album is an uncompromising personal vision filled with violence and aggression. Swiftly following up from 2024’s Devil’s Hammer is Wretch, the outfit’s eighth full-length release and a defining statement of intent, violence and dedication to the craft.
Wretch is the black metal par excellence, and Pestilential Shadows revel in the darkness and coldness that it promises. Led by vocalist/guitarist Balam, ‘Where Sunlight Goes to Die’’ will haunt you with its hypnotic yet frantic riffing and the surprising choral vocals that add to the grandeur without ever sacrificing the message. Wretch, whilst steadfast, also contains some nuances that elevate the experience, the guitar solos are nuanced and inspired. The rhythm section is merciless as ‘Erebus Divination’’ and ‘’Aherbelts’’ demonstrate with both blast and kick work before an atmospheric interlude that is torn asunder by more chaos. The title track is pure Pestilential Shadows and black metal, the tremolo riffing melodious and the dynamics representative of the genre and its cold dark spirit. ‘’Despondent’’ experiments with acoustics and a mid-tempo barrage, whilst the atmosphere that lurks within ‘’Embraced by the Spirit-Realm’’ is the perfect denouement to an utterly uncompromising record that is loyal to the genre yet unbound by it.
Wretch is a force of nature with its cohesiveness and musical ability. Pestilential Shadows have grown and developed their sound to not only encapsulate and revel in the most extreme forms of music but also experiment without ever sacrificing the visceral quality of their music and ideals. Harrowing and intense, Wretch is superb
Rauhnåcht – Zwischenwelten 8/10
Hailing from Austria, Rauhnåcht is the singular vison of its creator and Multi-instrumentalist Stefan Traunmüller. Since 2010 his commitment to pagan black metal has grown and developed, and with his fifth release Zwischenwelten it continues his uncompromising vision and commitment to the art.
Zwischenwelten (Between worlds) is immediate with its fury and purpose ‘’Der Spalt zwischen den Welten’’ (The gap between the worlds) opens in frenetic and energetic style. The tremolo riffing is precise, and the track develops an excellent atmosphere throughout its six minutes. This pure Hellenic black metal steeped in pagan tradition and the greats who made it possible. The hidden keys and rhythms remind you of Bathory at moments, but it moves on into epic territory with caried tempos and building crescendos. ‘’Letzter Pfad’’ (Final path) is more epic pagan black metal full of mid-tempo fury and blast beats. This is extreme art with hidden melodies and the ritual as evident on the excellent ‘’Das Mark des Lebens” (The marrow of life). Alleinsamkeit (Solitude) is the epic nine minute closer that runs the gamut of icy cold riffing and pummeling double kicks backed by choir-esque chanting and the harsh vocals, to create a foreboding atmosphere that’s dynamic and relentless yet memorable.
Zwischenwelten is a merciless, uncompromising album that is incredibly focused over its six tracks and forty-minute run time. It is epic without ever being self-indulgent, raw, and yet grandiose; it is an album that represents raw pagan black metal tinged with melody and a pervasive atmosphere with one hundred percent commitment that is inspired in places. Recommended!
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