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This is the second album for Verdunkeln, another fine band on the distinctive Van label from Germany. Since I liked the last abum from this band so much, I am not surprised at how good this disc turned out to be. Okay maybe I am surprised a little - how often does a band actually live up to their potential?

Verdunkeln are the sound of pain: slow, grinding, evil Black Metal in the general stream with bands like Forgotten Tomb or the Ruins Of Beverast. Verdunkeln write epic Black Metal dirges that roll over you like glaciers with sonorous chanting, dark rasping screams, and one of the best Black Metal guitar tones I have ever laid ears on. This is like hearing armor being cut up with sawblades made from ice. And yet this band injects a great deal of space into the music with acoustic interludes and whispered voice-overs. Atmosphere is the name of the game here, like a dark ice age captured in audible form. The only thing on this whole album that I don't like is the song "Der Quell", which has more upbeat riffs and a kind of irritating singsong vocal approach that really breaks the mood of the album.

But overall this is an excellent of crushing, evil, atmospheric Black Metal that again does the Van label proud. Not revolutionary, but very good.