URFAUST „Verräterischer, Nichtswürdiger Geist”

Music: Ambient/Orchestral/Black Metal
Website: http://www.myspace.com/urfaustfans
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 52:30 (7 songs)


Cool Songs: Ragnarök Mystiker, Gespinnst des Verderbens, Verflucht das Blenden der Erscheinung, Der Gottesverächter.

Urfaust was conceived by “XI” (Willem) in 1999 as an ambient project which gave birth to the true life form of the band after he decided to recruit “VRDRBR” on drums and replace the synth with the guitar. Urfaust stands out as an initiative addition to the genre 'Black Metal' out of the thousands of despicable, two week Black Metal bands that seem to spring out, out of boredom inspired by lack of purpose and direction.

I wasn't prepared enough to absorb what was coming when I started listening to this particular 'chef-d'oeuvre'. I never expected to experience or hear what I did when “Dunkel, Still von Ewigkeit”, the 13 minute ambient masterpiece was building up to what was forthcoming.

“Dunkel, Still von Ewigkeit” which roughly translates to (Dark, silent eternity) is a very orchestra oriented ambient masterpiece which Urfaust abuses as a build up to the unexpected 2nd track, “Ragnarök Mystiker”.

Never have I been exposed to an ambiance as such. IX (Willem), the assumable mastermind behind the project blends in awe-inspiring clean vocals with ugly uncontrollable screams filled with agony and insanity. And just when you think of the impossibilities of more tracks in the same vein, commences “Gespinnst der Verderbens”, “Verflucht das Bleden der Erscheinung” and “Der Gottesverächter “, all of them which possesses independent beauty which is projected through the guitar melodies and Willem's clean vocals and of course not forgetting the element which completes this release, the raw guitar tones and production coalesced with Willem's split personal vocal style.

“In den Weiten Öden Raumen” (In the wide, deserted rooms) is the last track on the album. Another ambient piece. Not just another though. The thing about this piece is that it brings you back out of the trance state, which was obscure to me until the record stopped playing. A perfect execution.

Production wise the whole album is in a very “raw” state as some would define. Even though it's a low quality production, with Willem's style of vocals, repetitive guitar melodies and drums, “Verräterischer, Nichtswürdiger Geist” blends both elements, beauty and ugliness and conjures into a release of forbearing and hypnotic ambiance.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

Dunkel, still von Ewigkeit
Ragnarök Mystiker
Gespinnst des Verderbens
Trauerhöhle
Verflucht das Blenden der Erscheinung
Der Gottesverächter
In den weiten öden Räumen

Line-up

IX (Willem) – Guitars, Bass, Vocals
VRDRBR (Nachtraaf) – Drums