Eisenkult - ...vom Himmel, hoch herab (2021)

Further settling into their own brand of Black Metal, Eisenkult delivers their excellent sophomore release “...vom Himmel, hoch herab”. With a mixture of old-school Black/Symphonic Black Metal with some Eisregen-like theatrics, this release unleashes 41 minutes of crafty music that is both fierce and playful enough to entice listeners that like the more bizarre side of the genres they cover.

After the 8-bit/MIDI vibe from the instrumental opener “Einklang”, “Ein Leib, ein Feuer” delivers Eisregen-esque onslaughts of harsh screams, playful tempo changes and crafty drumming. The band’s sound is quite melodic in nature, but the bizarreness of the mixture of elements really works to separate them from the pack. The versatility of the band can quickly be noticed as “Ein Brunnen voller Aas” unleashes traditional old-school BM fury with piercing riffs and a great sense of melody.

As the album progresses, the music gradually gets weirder and weirder, with “Brutal und furchtlos Stumpf”, our favorite track in this release, reminding us of the songs in the “Krebskolonie” album (by Eisregen). However, the fierceness of the guitar work of pieces like “Totenglocke” and “Wir klagen deiner Wunden” instantly reminds us of the band’s more aggressive and direct exploits.

Far from traditional, songs like the album title track nicely showcase the band’s strengths in creating highly melodic pieces of aggression and atmospheric genius. As Eisenkult continues to evolve with “...vom Himmel, hoch herab” we find ourselves liking their style and approach even more than with their debut. If you like Black Metal that is weird, atmospheric and yet piercing and brutal, look no further and get a copy of this release.

Label: Purity Through Fire

Release: June 7th, 2021

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Germany