Ketzer – Starless (2016)

Arriving with great hype and praise, today we have Germany’s Ketzer and their third full-length release titled “Starless”. Delivering a hefty mixture of Black Metal, Thrash Metal and some Post/ Hard Rock elements, this release comes under its own terms and with its unique sound that further expands the band’s musical range. Considerably more creative than most albums these days, the hype is real when it comes to this outfit.

Opening with the playful and Black’n’Roll-ish “Starless”, we are treated to a mixture of Aura Noir and Vreid thanks to catchy riffs and a very crafty tempo. Things get more awesome with the uber catchiness of “Godface” and its very direct attitude. This song reminds us a bit of Tribulation, but with the Ketzer signature. Continuing with the surprises, the heavy “Count to Ten” has a good dose of sinister riffs and that obscure BM atmosphere that bands like Satyricon seamlessly create.

The band’s unique musical abilities craft songs as different from each other as possible, like the playful and Post-Rockish “Shaman’s Dance” and the super catchy “Earthborn”, giving Ketzer an impressive range. The particular harsh vocals used perfectly fit the wide variety of musical influences, and allows the tracks to be heavier than the actual music dictates. Closing with the super mellow “Limbo”, we are quite puzzled and yet impressed with this very diverse and playful release.

Overall, “Starless” is one of many albums in the last few years that bend Black Metal into more ‘user friendly’ experiences, hence growing its audience and creative range. If you like bands that are pushing the envelope of their genres’ while keeping some core elements intact, Ketzer are another one that gracefully pulls this off. The more spins you give to this release, the more you will enjoy it, so be sure to not pass judgments too quick.

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release: January 29th, 2016

Genre: Black/Thrash Metal

Country: Germany