Waldgeflüster – Knochengesänge (Review)

This is the seventh (and eighth) album(s) by German black metal band Waldgeflüster.

I’m a big fan of Waldgeflüster, so make sure you check out their past releases here, here, here, and here, and my review of their performance at last years Fortress Festival here. Now that’s out of the way, let’s turn our full attention to Knochengesänge.

This is the first part of a two part odyssey – the second part is aptly named Knochengesänge II.

Knochengesänge is the primary new Waldgeflüster album, and essentially continues in the Waldgeflüster style that we know and love. It contains 59 minutes of black metal that takes influence from the atmospheric and folk varieties. A range of vocals appear, including screams, clean singing, and even some growls. All are well-performed, delivered by a vocalist that just seems to just be improving over time. Along with the rest of the music, Knochengesänge is saturated in emotional resonance.

Knochengesänge is aggressive, but textured, with rich layers of expressive strings and melodic colour. It’s atmospheric black metal steeped in the natural world, regardless of what is actually being sung about. The music ranges through deep valleys and soars above heavenly peaks. A mix of the earthy and the epic, the songs satisfy my desire for blackened aggression as well as my passion for atmospheric depth. Underpinned by orchestral detailing and immersive keyboards, the black metal ferocity is balanced by melancholic atmosphere and folk elements, (that sometimes carry an innate grandeur), resulting in well-crafted songs that really reveal their true worth across multiple listens.

Knochengesänge offers up an experience that’s captivating. It’s hypnotic and absorbing, providing the listener with a broad, well-developed set of soundscapes to become lost in. Although certainly not an album of hooks in the conventional sense, there are frequent moments that are memorable, working their way into hook-shaped implements over time as they burrow beneath your skin. Essentially, Waldgeflüster’s songwriting is strong, and the quality of the material is high throughout.

Once again Waldgeflüster have showcased why I hold them in high regard. Knochengesänge is an extremely enjoyable record that should find much favour with fans of bands such as Agalloch, Falls of Rauros, Fen, Panopticon, Saor, Winterfylleth, etc.

Very highly recommended.