On disc: Gernotshagen

 
 Weltenbrand
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 


 
 Weltenbrand
 
- Mike Thompson -
 
 

Weltenbrand

(Trollzorn Records - 2011)



 
 

 

There's something about Thuringian pagan metal that is quite simply awesome. Bands such as XIV Dark Centuries and Menhir define this unique sound that seems to only come from that area of Germany. Gernotshagen is another band from Thuringia and Weltenbrand is the sextet's third album.



Weltenbrand sees Gernotshagen keep true to the formula that has garnered them many admirers in the pagan / Viking / folk metal scenes. Strong, bombastic choruses, chunky riffs and well-used synths create a great atmosphere whilst the snarls and occasionally clean vocals of D Möller thrash out the German lyrics with both majesty and viciousness. Some fantastically beautiful and controlled guitar work compliments the musical landscape that Gernotshagen create.



The album is not just a carbon copy of what has gone before though. There are some extremely doom-like passages where the music and vocals take a on a real melancholy edge. Its not enough to drive you into a fit of manic depression such as when listening to an Opeth album but the way that Gernotshagen is able to control the emotions of the listener is quite remarkable.



In fact, the only downside to this album is that I felt some of the songs a tad over-long. Of course this is completely down to the individual listener but I felt as though not all of the songs were able to keep me enraptured past the halfway mark.



A great album though and if you're into the more serious side of pagan / folk metal, such as the aforementioned XIV Dark Centuries and Menhir or even Falkenbach and Nebelhorn, then I suggest you add this to your collection.

 
 










Mike Thompson


  
up 













Weltenbrand

(Trollzorn Records - 2011)



 
 

 

Pagan Metal can be one of the most powerful genres of the metal specter, and Gernotshagen proves that they have the forces inside them to make a marvelous production called Weltenbrand. It's only their 3rd release, but the band who was formerly known as Grafen von Gleichen goes totally amok to follow up on their 2007 album Märe aus wäldernen Hallen. This new record, Weltenbrand, almost breaks the borders of pagan and folk metal put together. The opener, Offenbarung, is a beautiful metal piece with flute and a classic first song of an album to warm the listeners, but you get an idea of where it is heading. Next comes the song Weltenbrand, and here you have to fasten the seatbelts. A heavy pressure with gothic sounds storming across the land of metal on the way to the forthcoming doomsday. This is so powerful that you are totally gutted by the voice of Daniel Askan Möller, a song that hit all the right spots. Blinde Wut gives a more aggressive guitar sound of professionalism which clears any doubt away, they run riot with these sounds from the burning underground. Thursenhain is epic power and forces evil prophecies in all directions and grabs the audience by the hair roots to underline their messages. Freyas Schoss is a powerful song that shakes the ground as if a metal storm was rising havoc, a guitar and vocal battle from their ranks of metal brains. The last song is called Die Banner hoch der Nacht entgegen. This song marks the finishing of this splendid album with a soft melodic impressive epos to include a demonstration of elegance, they play soft and have included a tale of metal, just to underline the different aspects they master on this wonderful new album.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
up 







 
 • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com