Rainer Landfermann releases soul-wrenching and unclassifiable album Mein Wort in Deiner Dunkelheit, built around an extreme metal structure.
Extreme metal is not for everyone, but you could say the same about other genres. What it does have, usually, is passionate, emotional turmoil backed by extremely tight and proficient musicians. New album Mein Wort in Deiner Dunkelheit has all of this, but on top of that, you have Rainer Landfermann’s most unique and passionate vocals backed by tracks that consistently flit from sub-genre to sub-genre, bringing in different ideas into constantly evolving pieces of music. It’s a treat for fans and an experience for others looking for something completely different.
Langsam, hinters Licht starts with droll and downbeat tones before Landfermann’s curious, spine-chilling vocals slide over in a kind of extreme folk-metal track. It’s dark, full of pain and ferocity, but still features other essences, such as bass playing akin to Jazz that’s ridiculously fast and technical. Now you can see why this music feels so unclassifiable.
Kunstvoll creates a more classic extreme metal sound, but what’s interesting is Lanfermann’s ease at switching between high and low vocal screams as he rips apart the rulebook amongst erratic changes in pace, intermittent backing choirs and blistering drums tying everything together. Wir fehlen alle relies on off-key sentiments and a penchant for misery as its basis with the gentle mood gradually growing in stature. The opening almost feels like an opera as the artist’s vocals portray such a character amidst pain, anger, hate and solitude. This then hits the fan as energetic doom-laden sounds burst forth into the ether.
Like all extreme metal genres, it will always have a core group of fans, but it’s inescapable to note that Lanfermann really has that something extra that sets him apart from the rest. The soul and upset in his vocals are what bring the music together and create pieces that, although erratic, are intriguing when you really listen to them. Intuition is a testament to this, slowly building into a crescendo of sound that is completely turned on its head with passion-laden screams and soulful cries. The music almost plays second fiddle, up until it suddenly explodes into your brain in an animalistic wave against incoherent babbling. Genius Drang then continues with one of the more rhythmic and radio-friendly tracks on the record, but still wrapped in that manic vocal track, blasting drums and grim atmosphere.
Mein Wort in Deiner Dunkelheit is a record that deserves to be given a chance. For fans, this is a mesmerizing piece of work that is full of heart, soul, and an artist’s pain and anger. These are the kind of things that famous art critics would mention about paintings that are considered masterpieces, and at the time may have been misunderstood; similarly, the people that ‘don’t get’ Rainer Landfermann now, may look back and view his work in a different way in years to come. Whatever your point of view, this record is one of the most emotion-laden records out there of any genre, full of tight and interesting instrumentation and soul-wrenching vocals.
Score: 3/5
Leave a comment