Issued in a 4-panel Digipak with a black tray on the right panel. Comes with an 8-page booklet with lyrics.
This EP from the "reformed" (same lineup as it's been since 2002) Absurd is really enjoyable. I could compare it to the Volksmusik EP, not that they're doing a folk metal style - but like the Volksmusik EP, this EP gets better as it goes on and ends with a masterpiece. I should note that the last two songs - which have Unhold on vocals - were already released in on Pure Darkness the year before. So this is the better EP to listen to, it has all the studio material of this incarnation of the band to date.
Production is really clean which is normal for modern Absurd. It's good for the sound because there's a lot going on - two guitars and the bass is audible in the mix and even gets some solos.
The first three songs have Wolf on vocals and it's not great. He does a growl but it's somehow nasally and sounds kind of whiny. Especially on the first song which is really wordy and he's practically scream-rapping over the music... he sounds annoying. The last two songs have Unhold, the longtime guitarist and drummer, doing vocals and he's much more enjoyable to listen to. His growls with bass in his voice instead of out his nose, and the final song is actually clean singing.
The drumming is overall the least interesting part of the recording, mixed low so it doesn't stand out, and usually pretty basic just keeping time with 4 beats. During the guitar solos the drumming picks up and there's blast beats, but for most of the runtime it's forgettable.
Songwriting is awesome and what makes this EP stand out. You have all kinds of riffs - tremolo picking, dueling guitar, and some really good solos. "Im Kriege ewiglich" has a bass solo that sounds like the soundtrack to a spaghetti western... it's unique and gives a strong start to the EP. There's a short bass solo in "Magnum Latrocinium" which reprises this sound, and then fades into a haunting, church organ sounding evil-as-hell guitar solo. There's clean chanting and atmospheric keyboards adding variety to the EP.
But the best thing here is the finisher, the English language "Pure Darkness." You have a fast-tempo power chord riff and real sexy bass underneath, the best drum performance on the album with snares, pedals and the ride cymbals, and a fantastic clean singing performance by Unhold. His deep voice adds to the cowboy undertone that's been in the music the whole time, and there's a lonely guitar solo that feels really classic rock inspired. Like I said at the beginning, I can't help but think of how the final song on the Grimmige Volksmusik blew the rest of the EP out the water and became an icon in it's own right... because that's exactly how this song is. An instant classic.
Overall highly recommend. The drumming and some vocals are weak, but the cleanly produced guitars and amazing finisher more than make up for it.
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=CshbVLQyNUk
