Band: Simple Existenz
Title: Das Leben Vor Dem Tod
Label: Ván Records
Distribution: Sure Shot Worx
Release date: 11/03/2010
Review: CD

After the split of Nagelfar (a pity, such a pity), Zorn continued with EgoNoir, a grim, Nordic-styled underground Black Metal project (Ván Records is about to release the second full length soon, I hope?!!!), and more recently he started a solo-project too, called Simple Existenz. This album, Das Leben Vor Dem Tod, is the official debut.

This album is a very special one. Indeed, Nagelfar were an unusual, unique formation too, but this one has not much to do with Nagelfar an sich. Nor EgoNoir.
As a matter of fact, every track has something rather unique, sometimes including elements from both other bands, yet again with a very ‘own’ approach. It is some kind of blackish-oriented Metal, with a mainly slow tempo and several (semi-) acoustic parts, mesmerizing keyboards, hypnotic guitar lines, the addition of samples, varying vocals (with German lyrics) (meaning: from melodic ones to blackened screams), and a rather melancholic, almost gothified, yet victorious atmosphere. A few neo-progressive touches, as well as some splendid links with the dark Doom-scene, are fine additions to the smoky, tetra-hydro-cannabinolic album.
Sometimes Simple Existenz play pretty fast (Auf Der Jagd etc) as well, yet the goal is not, certainly not, to perform Satanic Speed Terror. On the contrary, the whole is closer related to some old styled (Teutonic) Doom-Thrash à la late eighties / early nineties.
And what about the Traditional / Heavy / Thrash-killer Mein Licht, for example? Or the Punk-core-alike last track Schaben?

The whole comes with a rather primitive, somewhat sleazy sound, which goes well with the funereal touch of hate and fear, loss and despair, glory and life-philosophy.

85/100

Ivan Tibos.