Wednesday 10 June 2015

Der Weg Einer Freiheit - 'Stellar' (Album Review)


Album Type: Full-Length
Date Released: 23/3/2015
Label: Season of Mist


‘Stellar’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. Repulsion
02. Requiem
03. Einkehr
04. Verbund
05. Eiswanderer
06. Letzte Sonne
07. Idyll (bonus track)
08. Unendlich (bonus track)

Der Weg Einer Freiheit is:

Nikita Kamprad | Guitars, Vocals
Sascha Rissling | Guitars
Guiliano Barbieri | Bass
Tobias Schuler  | Drums

Review:  

Active since 2008, Germany's Der Weg Einer Freiheit (The way of Freedom) opens a new chapter in the book of Black Metal with their newest release, STELLAR. From the first song to the last song this album is full of deep, dark, and decrepit themes conveyed expertly through song. This is truly an impressive record, to say the least. The drums are absolutely insane (lots of flavor rather than just blasting as fast as possible the entire time, and expert foot work) and the guitars are like a wall of tragedy and torment, blending beautiful soundscapes of philosophy and reflection, with face ripping evil leads and demonically layered chord structures.

The opening track, “Repulsion”, immediately drew me in with its somber noir textures and mournful vocals. Once the bridge kicks in it feels as if satan himself walks into the room. This is by far, my new favorite black metal record. The range of emotions, depth, and dynamic is second to none. Equal parts beauty and beast. The sporadic haunting piano and violin peppered between several tracks adds such great atmosphere...its hard for me not to play this record over and over. I used to think black metal was a dying art saturated with loads of bands just rehashing other bands who were already ripping themselves off. Der Weg Einer Freiheit and their newest album ‘Stellar,’ have renewed my love for the darkest genre, and restored my hope in the future of black metal.

What made this review especially personal - I got a feeling to go to one of my favorite record shops the other day, just to browse the new arrivals (I haven't been there in ages), and I came across a copy of this record. I would have never expected to find it here in North Carolina by any means, seeing as black metal, although gaining in popularity, is still quite a niche, and even though there are many black metal records to choose from, most of them are from the “classic” or more well known and second wave black metal acts. Not to mention I live in the “bible belt” for fucks sake.  Anyway, I just started thumbing through the metal records and there it is all by itself, as if it was waiting for me...Stellar...in all its black metal glory...limited to 200 copies worldwide...in silver vinyl!

I should state that I'm not a record snob. I don't have some fancy pants home set up and I don't have a giant collection of records. I have a select gathering of cherished gems, a few rarities, and this is among them, if not the rarest in my selection. I wouldn't say that if you don't own this record, you aren't a true collector...but I would go as far as to say that if you don't own this record in some format be it digital or otherwise, you aren't black metal. I'll take the heat on this one, but seriously GET THIS FUCKING RECORD.

Words by: Joel Willis

‘Stellar’ is available now

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