FINSTERFORST – STILL

'Obduktion" opens "Still" with an eerie sense of restraint, as clean guitar lines and an ominous atmosphere create an immediate feeling of unease. The first vocals emerge as though transmitted through an old radio, carrying a haunting blend of nostalgia and quiet authority. Heavy drumming and rust-covered guitar riffs soon break the calm, while the underlying atmosphere continues to add depth to the composition. Sung in the band's native German, the vocals shift effortlessly between clean passages, harsh screams, and choral arrangements as FINSTERFORST seamlessly move from blistering black metal to expansive post-metal passages. It is a compelling introduction to the album. 

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'Herbstwanderung" ("Autumn Walk") unfolds with delicate, ethereal melodies that immediately evoke a sense of melancholy and quiet reflection. Bright guitar work and a prominent bass line form the foundation before a distorted vocal sample subtly emerges from the mix. When the vocals arrive, they carry a moving blend of sorrow and tenderness, perfectly complementing the song's autumnal atmosphere. A choral passage provides one of the composition's most powerful moments, sending chills down the spine with its haunting beauty. Although the closing section embraces a heavier, more aggressive direction, FINSTERFORST never abandons the fragile melodies that make the song so emotionally captivating. 

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At more than ten minutes in length, 'Im Wind' is one of the album's most expansive compositions, yet it never feels excessive. FINSTERFORST allow every musical idea the time and space to unfold, moving effortlessly between moments of crushing intensity and fragile beauty while maintaining an ever-present sense of darkness. Choral arrangements, versatile vocal performances, and carefully woven folk elements, most notably acoustic guitar and accordion, further enrich the composition without ever overwhelming it. With eyes closed, the music feels almost cinematic, as the instrumentation tells its own story alongside the vocals, making "Im Wind" one of the album's most immersive experiences.

With 'Leere' ('Emptiness'), FINSTERFORST presents a 25-minute epic that would constitute an entire album for many bands. Here, however, it feels like a natural extension of the journey. Demanding patience and complete immersion, the composition rewards the listener with meticulously crafted songwriting that unfolds at its own pace. Crushing, slow-moving riffs and a suffocating bass foundation gradually give way to ethereal textures, while the vocals shift between venomous aggression and profound longing. 

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More than any other track on Still, "Leere" encapsulates FINSTERFORST's unique artistic vision: seamlessly blending devastating heaviness with cinematic atmospheres, melancholic beauty, and monumental arrangements without ever feeling confined by genre boundaries. 

It is an ambitious and deeply rewarding centrepiece that perfectly embodies the band's "Black Forest Metal" identity. 

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The album concludes with two cover versions that showcase different sides of FINSTERFORST's creativity. Their interpretation of IMMORTAL's 'Beyond the North Waves' remains remarkably faithful to the Norwegian black metal classic, preserving its icy atmosphere, raw aggression, and uncompromising intensity while paying respectful tribute to one of the genre's defining bands. 'Another Brick in the Wall', originally by PINK FLOYD, takes a far more adventurous approach. Beginning with a haunting, doom-laden atmosphere before evolving through heavier passages, FINSTERFORST confidently reshape the classic into something distinctly their own. Although the absence of the original's iconic choir is noticeable, the unforgettable guitar solo remains intact, making for a creative and thoroughly enjoyable conclusion to an already impressive album.

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SCORE 9/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY

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