ALBUM REVIEW: Unter Bronzenen Kronen – Waldgeflüster
It is no accident at all that this record arrives when it does. Formed by the multi-instrumentalist Winterherz way back in 2005, WALDGEFLÜSTER have always had a decidedly autumnal vibe, as indeed is common for bands who deal in that more atmospheric and melodic and expansive take on black metal. They’ve made multiple phenomenal albums that should be essential listening for fans of this sort of thing, the most recent being 2021’s Dahoam, and now they follow that record up with their new mini album Unter Bronzenen Kronen, the title of which translates to the ever so apt ‘Under Bronze Crowns’.
Despite its billing as a mini album, Unter Bronzenen Kronen still stretches its four tracks to a generous 28 minutes, although admittedly only one of those is a completely new composition. That honour goes to the record’s opening title track, a windswept eight minutes that cover pretty much everything one could ask of WALDGEFLÜSTER – all breathless and mournful and grand and elemental with Winterherz’s vocals as emotive in their most rasping screams as they are when he goes for big theatrical cleans. Depending on how long you’ve been on board here is either proof or a reminder of just how good this band are at this particular strain of black metal
Adding to this are three re-interpreted tracks – two covers and one of the band’s own – all altered significantly from their originals to the point that they all really do feel like fresh material. First and perhaps the strongest on the entire record is a take on The Pit by the band’s former split-mate PANOPTICON. While Austin Lunn is of course most known for creating music in a very similar wheelhouse to WALDGEFLÜSTER, the fact that the band have chosen to cover one of his bluegrass cuts is particularly impressive. They stretch it to a good seven minutes plus change, the melancholy feel of the original heightened by the slow and towering blackened heft they bring to it as Winterherz leans primarily on beautifully gothic clean vocals and guest musician Nostarion adds some stirring cello contributions.
Also covered is BEN HOWARD’s Black Flies – on paper definitely the most out there choice but in practice another one that pays off as the band replace the leaning-in subtlety of the original with a big overblown blackened power that suddenly makes the song feel far more triumphant and anthemic. Before that though, the band present a MMXXIII version of Herbst Befiel Das Land (‘Autumn Invaded The Land’) off their 2009 debut full-length Herbstklagen. Not only does it get the production tool-up you’d expect, but the arrangement and structure is changed significantly, with only a few melodies and tremolo lines giving away its roots. Ultimately, it’s a far more advanced and notably less chaotic composition – proof really of how far WALDGEFLÜSTER have come over the past decade or so – and one that slots perfectly into the overall feel of this release.
And that is definitely the most impressive thing about Unter Bronzenen Kronen; take the one new track here and play it alongside the original versions of the three others and you’ve got an absolute mess, and yet WALDGEFLÜSTER have turned them into a cohesive and deeply rousing whole. As intended, it’s the perfect soundtrack to the falling of leaves and that wonderful crispness many of us will be feeling in the air at the moment, and if the shorter runtime leaves you needing more then you couldn’t possibly go wrong with just abot anything from the stellar body of work that precedes it.
Rating: 8/10
Unter Bronzenen Kronen is set for release on September 29th via AOP Records.
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