Random Earworms X – Infestus – Chroniken des Ablebens

Coming from German lands, Infestus displays that typical black metal from that part of Europe. Many of you will know that I don´t like to compare bands, either because of their style or influences I think that each band tries to put their own DNA to their music and that is why I am not going to compare Infestus with other similar bands because it has everything that it takes for top-tier black metal. Quality in productions, melodies, and dark passages accompanied by intense riffs and formidable drum attacks.

In “Chroniken des Ablebens” none of that is absent. It’s a great album although I don’t consider it the best of Infestus, for me it is still a great album that projects very varied moments in its 8 songs. There is a lot of quality here and it is reflected in pieces such as “Manifesto Invidiae”, one of the longest songs on the album with a dark and powerful melody that accompanies the vocals in a great way with transitions that paint different landscapes, at times heartbreaking, at times melancholic and with feeling.

Another great song is “Entfesselt – Der Todestrieb”, also one of the longest. With a very slow start as walking through the lost forest, a devastated and desolate soul seeks to free itself from pain and find absolute peace in death. This song well accompanied by melodic passages is very intense and well worth listening to carefully to capture every detail.

The first thing I am hit with is the powerful combination of vocals and instruments.  “Sterbend”, is softly melancholic, to a climbing of intensity.  As an intro, incredible.  Deep guttural growls, riffs and drums blasting relentlessly, with the vocals varying to a shrieking wail in “Manifesto Invidae”.  The melancholy, otherworldy tone is present here an leaves a great impression.

The atmosphere and pacing in “Entfesselt-Der Todestrieb” is very captivating.  The guitar is beautifully tragic in the intense nature of this track.  Sometimes,  metal just reaches in and gives words where there are none.  “Ready to Leave” is that subtle touch that goes to that place.  All said, my ears were very full of the intense black metal that Infestus offers in this album and I thoroughly enjoyed all that I heard.

I immediately liked the atmospheric guitar passage at the start of the opening track “Sterbend”. Happily, this is not an isolated dynamic flourish. The album has plenty of what I would think of as the typical charging-through-a-blizzard style of black metal, but there are also lots of interesting dynamics, rhythmic changes and often cool “headbanging” passages that make me think of what seems to be the ​Darkthrone​ model: if it rocks, we can do it.

So while I’ll never be a huge fan of the black metal-style vocal approach it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker for me if I enjoy the music and yay verily this music do I enjoy. To go with the varied musical journey it definitely helps to have a beast behind the drum kit, pulling out all kinds of great battering fills (like on ​“Des Untergangs Untertan”). On ​“Entfesselt – Der Todestrieb” ​meanwhile the band takes another sparse, eerie guitar intro and here weaves it through the rest of the track, which is a brilliantly relentless assault of pounding percussion and charging riffing before the frenzy gives way a little bit and the opening melodic theme comes back in.

As someone who isn’t big on black metal in general I’m not the best person to say what is or isn’t “good” black metal, but I dig this. It gets the Tom seal of approval.

Unlike the intro, track two “Entering Eternal Oblivion”, is not subtle in its approach and explodes with aggression from the outset. I’m slogged with an impenetrable wall of drums but quickly realise that the band have more to offer than just the standard flurry of blast beats and tremolo picking. Instead, Infestus possess an interesting structure to their work including satisfying changes in tempo, slow interludes, frothing fury and aggression, but also shifting, burning atmospheres that are intricate and all-consuming. I’ll admit by the end of track two I was entirely captivated, however what followed transcended all expectations.

After track three, “Manifesto Invidiae”, which turned out to be my favourite track, I was completely sold. I stopped the album, ceased writing down my thoughts for this very review and promptly purchased a digital copy of “Chroniken Des Ablebens” from bandcamp. I’m not writing this for dramatic effect either, I really coughed up the cash (even though I may risk eating beans on toast for a few days next week). Few albums have caused such impulsive behaviour in me, but this is exactly the style and calibre of black metal that I crave. It’s exciting, moody, widely varied which creates a churning, sinister turbulence, and offers some amazing transitions and beautifully elegant melodies. Each of the seven tracks feel essential to the greater work and together construct a potent black metal offering. This is a phenomenal album, I found it irresistible and it was worth every Euro.

I remember getting the Debemur Morti newsletter informing the release on CD. Totally new to me the band. But the cover and the name caught my attention. I listened to one song or two at that time, It did fulfill my ears, but I didn’t get the CD… Luckily almost a year later, and I was in contact with Slava Satan Records, I got the info that the LP version will be out soon. I must have it. And I did.

I remember when I got it (together with a few other LPs from Slava Satan Records). A very good Gatefold with a very good looking. A very good edition for a very good damn album.

“Chroniken Des Ablebens” is an album that must be heard by all, not just the Black Metal fans. The music, the atmosphere, the riffs, very good damn album.