Krähenfeld "Vergänglich" CD

Gloomy, but very melodic and atmospheric Black Metal band from Krefeld. Highly Recommended!

Whenever I see the name Krefeld popping up I get a warm and fuzzy feeling. Blind Guardian has been my first “real love” when it comes to metal. I enjoyed bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Running Wild or Black Sabbath before, but listening to “Somewhere Far Beyond” for the first time was a defining moment for me. This music has just resonated on a special level with me, and until today this style is one of my favorite ones – and even tough other acts are delivering this kind of crunchy yet ultra-melodic power metal in a more traditional way than Blind Guardian I still follow the band and enjoy their music. Not the awful and ridiculously overblown orchestra album, god no.
So why am I mentioning this at this place? It seems that Krefeld is home to some other highly talented musicians as well. Hansi mentioned in an interview that having grown up and living in the shadow of the castle and around that area always had kind of an influence on him, and how he developed his taste in music. After having listened to “Vergänglich”, the full length debut by the band Krähenfeld (I assume you get the play of words), I can imagine that the local characteristics left their mark on them as well. Of course the genre is a different one here, but what they have in common with their famous fellow citizens is the feeling to craft special moments and produce a dense and captivating atmosphere by weaving intricate melodies and soundscapes into their music, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.
The kind of feelings created by Krähenfeld are quite cloudy and often depressive ones, making the over 50 minutes long album a bit of a challenge at times. It could be classified as post depressive black metal in a way, but somehow musically falls into a more eerie, atmospheric style that is less easy to compare to other similar acts. The rhythm guitars tend to drone, serving as a deeper bedrock from which the lead guitars can dictate the finer emotional tone, as difficult as it can be to determine exactly what emotional reaction it brings out as you’re listening. Krähenfeld are masters in switching between different moods in the blink of an eye. E.g. in the first song “Des Wahnsinns Kalte Gier” you will find an extended soloing part, with the lead guitar gliding into a relatively warm and captivating harmony, before some traditional tremolo runs and blasting parts take over. What really makes Krähenfeld stand out from the pack is the fact that I as a listener never feel lost during such transitions, but as if I understand the main idea behind these twists and turns.
The instrumentation is of the highest order, with especially some of the guitar parts being jaw-dropping. This constant shifting between stunning main harmonies and some crazy lead solo action is breath-taking. Meanwhile, the drums are generally content to alternate between relentless blasting and a groovier and more laid-back style, overall building a suitably raucous backbone for an album likely to pull such deep emotional reactions from the listener. The vocals are presented with a lot of despair, being transporting the mournful and melancholic lyrics in the German language. Music like this is a lot about atmosphere, and Krähenfeld are able to take the listener on an emotive journey over the course of the album.
Another highlight comes with the production, which is more or less plain perfect. Organic yet dynamic, not too dusty, but not too modern or synthetic as well. The guitars have been highlighted in the mix, but the other instruments are not buried as well. Everything just sounds natural and clear. “Vergänglich” has been done as DIY by the band, making the end product really impressive. Overall a fantastic first effort, and I cannot wait for new stuff by them. And guys, just in case one of you bumps into Hansi at the local grocery: We Blind Guardian fans still hope for something being more in the vein of “Somewhere Far Beyond” or “Imaginations from the Other Side”. Just saying.

Sample: https://kraehenfeld-blackmetal...

Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...