Black metal is one of the last bastions of progression and experimentation in the metal community. Fifteen years ago that statement would have been laughable, but with the first couple generations of purists either incarcerated, dead, or at least moving on to other musical interests, a new generation has been left to carry the torch. This wave of bands is not only more musically ambitious, but also has more eclectic influences. Inspired by the bleak soundscapes of a genre nearing its 30th birthday, and not so much by the church burnings and band member slayings, this group of musicians (Deathspell Omega, Amesoeurs, Wolves in the Throne Room, Ruins of Beverast, and Nachtmystium to name a few) has been churning out albums that prove that black metal does not have to have self-imposed boundaries.
Regardless of what musical styles are being applied to the black metal template, one old standby is necessary for all this to work: murky, occult atmosphere. And countless albums have proven this can be achieved without sounding like some cheap basement demo recorded on a boom box. To me, one of the most impressive things is the sound engineers who have mastered the art of balancing rawness and clarity.
Germany's Verdunkeln can be added to the ever-growing list of enlightened black metal bands. However, Verdunkeln does not sound much like any of the aforementioned bands. Einblick in dem Qualenfall generally stays at an insistent slow-to-mid tempo and everything is drenched in reverb: the drums, guitars, and vocals, creating a very lush, spacious sound. But this is not some thin, digital-sounding reverb. This album seriously sounds like it was recorded in a gothic cathedral.
Yet Verdunkeln is not as murky as bands like Xasthur or Ruins of Beverast, although the album does employ some medieval style chanting in a style similar to Ruins of Beverast, except in German of course. The production is also rather bottom-heavy for its genre. Epic stuff, needless to say.
There is also a lot of interplay between thickly distorted guitars and clean, heavily chorused guitars, giving the album some much-needed dynamics. The drums sound enormous and consistently lurch the album forward.
Verdunkeln seems to have one foot in the hypnotic repetition of Filosofem-era Burzum and the other foot in the groove of psychedelic rock. The result is both punishing and haunting, as heard on "In Die Irre," "Im Zwiespalt," and "Die Saat Der Klinge." There are times Einblick in dem Qualenfall sounds like it is trying to be more anthemic rock than atmospheric black metal, which kind of hurts a couple tracks including "Der Quell," but overall doesn't affect the album's momentum. The album's closer, "Auf Freiem Felde" is a monumental track filled with operatic Germanic chanting and almost Renaissance-like melodies.
Einblick in dem Qualenfall attests to the fact that black metal is not a one-dimensional genre. Paradoxical as it may sound, Verdunkeln is minimalistic and progressive at the same time and, like Burzum, is both chilling and soothing. The psychedelic influence, whether intentional or not, makes the album much more interesting and versatile than it would have been otherwise.
