| CD REVIEW Agrypnie |
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Band: Agrypnie After Nocte Obducta was put to rest, Torsten Hirsch continued under the moniker of Agrypnie. In 2005, Agrypnie released a split with the German Death Metal formation Fated, and in 2006 the debut studio full length got released. In mean time, Torsten looked after a complete line-up, and this collaboration resulted in the recording of this second full length. The drive behind Agrypnie’s music hasn’t changed. Still the main goal is to create deep, atmospheric and melancholic Black Metal, with an avant-garde approach and a cold, oppressing sound. Opening track “Mauern” is a varying, dark up-tempo track, which has a more organic sound than any former material. Reason therefore is the recruitment of drummer René Schott, where the former album was created with a drum computer. This important change may be the most positive evolution between F51.4, the former album, and Exit. Most tracks vary in tempo between slow and up-tempo, and a few times a secret relationship with the Doom-scene gets revealed. The slightly progressive songs contain atmospheric keyboards, a few acoustic guitars, a grim guitar sound, a firm rhythm section and rough vocals. The avant-garde approach isn’t as psychotic as bands as, let’s say, Ram-Zet or Ephel Duath, nor is it as progressive as Solefald or Borknagar, but it does exhale a glorious atmosphere. The technical elements and professional skills, the ingenious and intelligent compositions and the desolate production breathe their qualities as one gargantuan entity. Every song has got so many levels, so many layers of hidden beauty, and each time again I undergo another mesmerizing yet funereal experience. Superb Doom / Black for the unhappy ones, that’s what Agrypnie’s newest recording stand for! 88/100 Ivan Tibos. |