Absurd "Der fünfzehnjährige Krieg" CD

This album kicks ass. Like no joke it is insanely good. While Absurd isn't well known for musical talent or good production, Der fünfzehnjährige Krieg completely changes that. It's astonishing how when the Absurd crew puts their mind together they can manage to create a work of art. This album features many new songs as well as re-recording of many of the band's fan favorite tracks. There are no bad songs here, seriously. I managed to snag this release on CD with the "Der erwige Krieg" box set, as well as other albums. I will be talking about this album's three best tracks as not to clutter the review.

"Last Breath" is the definition of the energy that this album is trying to radiate, and it shows. The guitars play a really catchy riff with a very audible bass, which is surprising for a black metal release. The clean singing matched with the drum beat makes "Last Breath" sound like a march, which fits the militant aesthetic of the band. One of the best parts about this track is the vocal layering on the chorus, the clean vocals are layered in with the shrieking and it sounds like a group of people singing. Now the main selling point of this track is the spoken word part, it manages to place a lot of emphasis on what the vocalist is saying.

I was not expecting a Der Fluch cover on this album. Absurd is covering their song "Betet fur uns" off of the album "Die Nacht des Jagers". They took an already amazing song yet somehow managed to improve it. Once again, the bass is audible, which is a good thing considering they're covering a goth song. The guitar work here is superb because unlike the Der Fluch version, the guitars are mixed and they aren't shrill enough that they ring your ears. Another great improvement on the Absurd cover is that the instrumental does'nt cut out on the chorus and the song is much more fluid due to this. "Betet fur uns" is possibly the best song off the album.

Finally, a remake of one the most well known and popular Absurd songs: "Mourning Soul". It's a very RAC/punky track that first made an appearance on "Facta Loquuntur". This one really reaches its full potential without Sabastian's awful vocals and the off beat drums. This album rejuvenates this song by giving it a solid instrumental and outstanding emotive vocals. This is a song that has been stuck in my head for years now because it's so damn good. "Mourning Soul" is another contender for best song off the album, and it's the best non-black metal song on it.

Overall this album is a must listen, and a great place to start for people who have been looking into Absurd but they don't know where to start. It's kind of like a sample dish of all of their best songs in their best forms. "Der fünfzehnjährige Krieg" has enough variation in the songs that it doesn't get old and it remains a great experience whether it's the 1st or 101st play.

Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=qFwNjWDa170