Random Earworms XIII – Ferndal – Singularitäten

It has been two years and oddly enough I haven’t heard anything of if Ferndal might be working on something more. The sound they offer is perhaps not as unique anymore as it was back then when “Singularitäten” was released but I do hope if they plan on releasing something new soon that they stick to what they have done so far but might bump up the production they had last time. I’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat.

Four tracks in, just when I thought this must be an instrumental album, Black Metal vocals appeared. Only at the end I realize I’d been listening to the album on random play, well I guess that probably made the full listening experience not quite how it was intended, but I enjoyed it for the most part.

I would never choose to listen to this kind of grand, symphonic Black Metal, but some parts really appealed to me. “Die Ferlorenen” has a very cool instrumental passage to end the track, and “Bringer Der Leere” I like a lot, “Weltenbrände” has great melodies and is the standout track. Turns out it’s track two and I thought it was the grand finale!

This album threw so many musical elements at me that I felt like a dartboard. From the metal genres there were shades of black, epic, symphonic, pagan, and atmospheric but with huge helpings of neoclassical grandeur. After listening to the album I did some quick research on the band and discovered that the German quintet includes a permanent cello player, which explained the heavy classical string sound. Throughout the album there are gobs of intense tremolo picking, crazy blast beats and raspy vocals, yet regardless of this rabid brutality, the addition of the cello provides a mournful, sorrowful, edge to all the tracks.

The inclusion of a cello in a black metal band feels novel and at times was stunning, however it’s presence in every track seems to be hard to balance. At times the strings felt intrusive or too prominent in the mix and I found myself trying to concentrate on what the rest of the band was doing. However, let it be said that I am not a classically trained musician and I possess a very unsophisticated ear so take my comments as you will. Where the cello really had it’s moment to shine bright was in track five, an instrumental, classical cover of Satyricon’s “Mother North”. This track is absolutely breathtaking and again a unique addition to an extreme metal album.

There are plenty of catchy melodies and riffs to be had on this album and I loved the juxtaposition of symphonic elegance and brutal black metal. I also enjoyed the vocal styles, including the occasional crooning of the pagan male chanting. Overall, the album has a sophisticated and mature feel about it, but for me personally it’s not entirely seamless. I truly enjoyed the experience of “Singularitäten”, I’m excited by the unique style of Ferndal and look forward to seeing what they have to offer in the future.

The intro transports, the melancholic strings pulll you in, the sadness of the expression builds, and the tone is one of regret, but the surging metal strength is felt.  There is a folk feeling, in the way the strings  underpin the sound, to black metal vocals.  This combination is compelling.  Guitar riffs are magic in this, chugging to frenzied.  

“Bringer der Leere”, the vocals, over the folksy instrumental really work in contrast.  Guitar riffing and strings add more to the track, giving it a foreboding feeling.  I really enjoyed this track. “Mother North” takes the strings to a darker place, strong melancholy, and uplifting at the same moment. “Zerbrechen” has that orchestral sound in instrumentation, then, the black metal bleeds through, to folk song melodies. 

This one is a stand out for me. “Seranade” brings the orchestra and black metal to play against each style.  Very well done, the overall sense is one of a battle, a challenge, picked up and infused. The last track is “Distanz, Op”, and it holds slower riffs, speed metal drums, and again, that folk, clean vocal. I’ve not heard this band before, but I will be watching for more from them.  My ears enjoyed the whole album.

I remember this album when was out, and I remember that I gave a listen or two, maybe three, and that time I didn’t give the attention that the album deserved.

Well, I don’t feel related to the melodic Black Metal or classical influences on Black Metal or to the symphonic Black Metal. Even if there is a lot of damn good albums out there inside those genders.

Cause of that, i didn’t gave a correct attention to this album like I said above. So it was very good to listen to again this album and enjoy it.

It’s a very well done album, with a lot of damn very good passages, the sound of the cello, the piano, the ambient around it. Very good indeed.

Give a try to this album.