Des Düsterwaldes Reigen

"Des Dusterwaldes Reigen" is Wolfsmond's first album. It begins on a strange note, some peculiar progressive intro going into something a lot like Absurd, which left this listener wondering what I got myself into, before the strains of the third song "Entfesselt" starts off with pure black metal riffs like Odal, and yet still a bit of an odd influence with solos and things, which work really well, creating a dark pagan atmosphere. The next song moves on a dirge feeling, with acoustic guitars reminding of Bathory's Viking metal work, and a dark funeral atmosphere. Then we are given strange progressive elements, again going into a mid paced song that reminds me of the slow part of Satyricon's song "Mother North." Basically a depressive pagan atmosphere rules the day as on the 4th song. The bass is quite present on here as well, giving a good feeling, along with some clean breaks. There is a lot of experimentation on here for sure, the song changes up a bit, even having some doubled melodic work and a tortured vocal performance.

This more experimental edge is continued on the other tracks, "Tod Ohne Traum" opens up with something almost like Opeth, with clean guitars and some progressive yet simple drumming, at 1:32, the song really opens up with distorted guitars and a very epic vibe. The vocals are up front and aggressive on here, bringing an evil feeling. Some clean singing is also thrown in. It isn't too bad, very volkish sounding. The guitars riffs are really good on here, reminding me of slower moments of Odal and Sapthuran. Next is "Auf Den Schwingen Des Drachen" which has a different guitar tone, and a more heavy metal-ish riff. This is a more Absurd feeling track, particularly with the vocals, which are very militant and Teutonic. Not a bad track but like the second track "Wo Der Tod Allein Thront" the bands previous allegiance with Absurd shows through a bit too much, it is still listenable and very heathen. "Blutmond" brings up back to more melodic black metal, again primarily a driving mid pace beat, with epic dark sounding riffs. More black metal ish vocals then the last track as well. A good feeling on here, with some good solos and great interplay between guitar tracks and complex bass.

"Greet the Beyondworld" is last, a dark heathen metal riff starting out, very mid pace and heavy metal drums. The songs goes on for a bit before the vocals come in, and when they do they are primarily clean volkish singing, and also in English (all other songs are in German). The lyrics are good on here, bringing a dark heathen wolf spirit. This song finishes the album on a very good note, leaving the listener with a feeling of really entering the dark woods of the cover of the album.

This album was a bit of a leap for me, simply because I knew nothing about it before hand. And though at first I wasn't impressed by the first two tracks, as it progresses this album only gets better, having a really good pagan metal feeling, with some heathen black metal thrown in as well. I would highly suggest this to fans of bands like Absurd, Primordial, etc. who desire some dark forest pagan metal that not many are familiar with.