Absurd - Totenlieder

Riffs that will make you break your neck headbanging. A vocalist who produces every type of sound men normally cannot create. A dehumanizing, humiliating atmosphere of mechanized brutality. A complete triumph of sonic narrow-mindedness. These are the pillars of Totenlieder, one of the most bestial black metal albums of all times. Much ado is made about the so-called 'war metal' genre of bands like Warkvlt and Beherit, but here in an actual war-like metal album made by Absurd that needs no fancy gimmick or band imagery, the music speaks for itself.

Of course, I hear you say: Morsay, you fool, a lot of bands are successful in generating an abhorrent aura. I agree. Yet Absurd overtops them all, and with ease. He seems to unite all forms of misanthropic insanity into one demented album Totenlieder and his inhumane screams lacerate the eardrum of every incautious listener. Despite the title of the album, Totenlieder is absolutely not interested in offering any kind of mourning songs about the deceased, as meditative or contemplative elements are only for esoteric wimps. His razor-sharp riffs and vocals challenge the audience in the most horrible manner - but it is only one element which contributes to the atmosphere of mechanical destruction.

In order to please the war hawks from Sondershausen, I may use a martial metaphor to describe their music. Equipped with the pressure wave of an atom bomb, it blows everything away. Totenlieder is an album you must own, whether you are a fan of black metal or just brutal and atmospheric music in general. Or both.

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