The ever-reliable Eisenwald label delivers the goods here yet again by unearthing a real underground talent. In keeping with the label’s philosophy, this Dutch trio successfully blend soaring melody, palpable aggression and a tangible, arboreal atmosphere on their second full-length ‘Luwte’. It’s a simple enough formula, granted – and in these post-Drudkh times, one oft-explored – but Fluisteraars manage to sidestep the more obvious pitfalls of triteness that can sometimes scupper this kind of material.
Principally, these boys are about riffs – big, searing, epic riffs that scythe across the sonic bedrock like a gale – all underpinned by booming, reverb-soaked percussion. In this, multi-instrumentalist Mink Koops has a big part to play (being responsible for both instruments) in managing to carve a suitably evocative sound. The snare is huge sounding, almost resembling a clap of thunder at times. As I said before though, it’s the riffs here that deliver – Fluisteraars trim away some of the genre’s more decorative elements (acoustics, synths, clean vox, flutes and so on), instead focussing on big slabs of melodic distorted guitar.
The real standouts of the four songs present are the two central tracks, ‘Angstvrees’ and ‘Stille Wateren’. The former is frantic and demanding, lashing the listener with an aggression that nonetheless carries a real weight of melody. The central refrain that ushers in at around the 3 minute mark is one of the riffs of the year – at once both driving and reflective, it perfectly encapsulates the band’s approach. The 15 minute epic that follows is another winding number that eventually locks in on a hypnotic, slow-paced section that recalls Hate Forest at their most epic (i.e. circa the classic ‘Purity’ album). It’s massive, frankly, really drawing the listener in.
If I’ve any real complaints, I’d have to single out the vocals – an acceptable enough scream for the most part but in all honesty, there’s a whiff of an afterthought about them being as they are slightly buried in the mix and generally quite sparse. They just don’t seem to match the size of the music that accompanies them which is a little bit of a disappointment. A touch more variety and/or power really would have been the cherry on the cake.
When all is said and done though, if atmospheric guitar-centric black metal rocks your world, you’d be well advised to get your hands on a copy of ‘Luwte’ post-haste – it’s absorbing, compelling and thoroughly convincing.
(8.5/10 Frank Allain)
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