Paysage d'Hiver - Die Berge (2024)

Unleashing seven cavernous Ambient Black Metal tracks, today we have Paysage d'Hiver with “Die Berge”. For the uninitiated, this one-man outfit from Tobias Möckl, one of the masterminds of Darkspace has been lurking in the underground since the late 90’s with countless demos and EP’s until their debut full-length “Im Wald” in 2020. Featuring a relentless Burzum-esque vibe, this release is dense and slow burning, delivering maximum punishment for a whopping 100 minutes.

Most songs in this release are over 11 minutes long, opening with the piercing “Urgrund”, where a thick and pummeling atmosphere is masterfully crafted alongside raw harsh vocals and very crafty tempo changes. The opener hooks the listener with its atmospheric undertones and its rawness, paving the way for “Verinnerlichung” and “Transzendenz” part 1, which keep an hypnotic pace, while laying everything on their path to waste.

The release is an exercise in patience and awe, as it feels like a slow downward spiral to hell with “Transzendenz” parts 2 and 3 delivering brief moments of respite, while hammering down on the fierce guitar riffs and crafty tempo changes. The atmospherics add an extra level of punishment as they are designed to haunt the listener with bone-chilling subtleties. When the band goes extra hard, the damage is visceral as songs like “Ausstieg” unleash extra levels of punishment.

Overall, “Die Berge” is a very characteristic Paysage d'Hiver that fully immerses the listener from the first minutes. While the duration is quite long in the traditional sense, its hypnotic nature keeps the listener engaged and enthralled with what is unraveling. There are plenty of bands that attempt to mix ambient elements with Black Metal, but only a few can inflict the pain that this outfit delivers. Be prepared to have nightmares for a while with this one.

Label: Kunsthall Produktionen

Release: November 8th, 2024

Genre: Ambient Black Metal

Country: Switzerland