Baphomet's Aeon

Playing a blasphemous style of black metal that rather relies on mid-tempo chord work than on norsecore tremolo tactics, Dunkelgrafen chug their way through this 45 minute release that is rather mediocre. This being their second full-length and fourth release in total, one would expect that a proper degree of musicianship would’ve been reached, but that’s not what happened here. At this point, it’s still a collection of recycled riffs, badly executed ideas or riffs that start off good and end up going nowhere. Another thing that’s very, very problematic is the fact they tend to use riffs and song buildups that create an atmosphere of expectancy, as if it’s a crescendo towards a great climax, a culmination of energetic black metal rage, but ultimately, nothing happens. And clone bands, uninspired music, productions that are a bit too raw even for black metal, okay, that’s annoying but it won’t kill me, but those buildups over and over again with nothing happening, no, that sucks.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of positive aspects to make the balance a bit more even. Dunkelgrafen has incorporated several decent solo’s here and there, which is uncommon, but those few rays of sunlight hardly make a pretty day. Another aspect I usually deem worthy are intro’s on acoustic guitars but it is once again so generic and predictable it does nothing for me. This is really the story of this album; all what could’ve been good, isn’t good, and the rest just never got close to being good.

The production is okay, but not more than that. I have no idea how to describe it in a new fashion because it is the same thing over and over again with this record: it isn’t really bad, but it isn’t anything better than ‘not bad’ either. The guitar sound is the weakest part of the production and they feature one of those typical sounds that are only cool when they play tremolo-picked riffs, but that only happens about 2 times. Furthermore, it hasn’t got a very powerful, vile or sharp sound. That in itself also killed quite a number of riffs, probably.

The vocals are probably one of the best elements of this album. Dunkelgraf and Iskariot work together on vocal duties and all kinds of growls, screams and grunts come gurgling by on this record, sometimes solo, sometimes backing each other up. The variety of vocal styles and the way they are applied is definitely a plus.

I am not going to waste your and my time any more by elaborating further and further on the instruments, since it will all come down to the same conclusion I’ve made several times earlier in this review. I have to admit that this could develop into something worthy a few albums later but since this is already their second full-length I won’t hold my breath. Avoid, not like the plague, but avoid nonetheless.