Eïs – Wetterkreuz (2012)

Originally known as Geïst, today we have Eïs and their latest full-length release titled “Wetterkreuz”. As one of the most ‘straight forward’ bands on Prophecy productions, the band plays a very well-crafted blend of Melodic Black Metal with atmospheric elements that is both brutal and majestic. Featuring 50 minutes of music distributed in five tracks, the band sets a very atmospheric mood that is nicely contrasted by harsh screams, furious riffing, and very tight drumming.

Opening with some wind effects and German spoken lines, the mood is set to creepy since the very beginning. As soon as the guitar and drums roll in, “Mann aus Stein” sounds a bit like Falkenbach, Enid (the band’s members have been/are involved with the band), etc. However, things change when some more layers of traditional Black Metal are made evident and goes back and forth between melodic and aggressive.

Transitioning with more wind effects, the next track “Auf Kargen Klippen” also has that very regal feeling of epic synths blending into aggressive riffing. This time the riffs and drums are more punishing and the harsh vocals work perfectly in the mix. With a similar approach the album’s title-track rears its end, but again, the Black Metal in it is more brutal than the other factors. We actually quite enjoy that the band keeps a defined line between the melodic/atmospheric and the harsh/brutal BM sections. By doing this, we have very contrasting sections that are bridged by melodic passages very effectively.

Our favorite track is the hyper-fast “Am Abgrund”. In this song the riffing reaches its peak, in terms of brutality, and the drumming is as intense as you can expect in any brutal Black Metal release. The few atmospheric elements are perfectly placed in this track and they nicely enhance the crushing nature of such a destructive song. Closing with “Bei den Sternen”, the band nicely winds down the release with distorted guitars and keyboards that are fading as the song concludes.

In general, Eïs is a pretty solid band that already has a few solid album under its belt (recently re-released on Prophecy), and “Wetterkreuz” is a great addition to their resume. For fans looking for Black Metal that is a bit above the norm and mixes very eerie atmospheric elements but is still fast and brutal, look no further and get this release. If you expect senseless brutality, you might as well skip this one.

Release: November 13th, 2012 (North America)

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Germany