Endstille, Endstille Reich
Endstille’s latest offering from Regain Records is a violent affair comprised of ferociously delivered vocals over high paced black metal nastiness. Endstille Reich is one hell of a raw, unfiltered attack on everything — rapid fire drumming mixes with caustic riffs and an aggressive vocal attack from lead singer Iblis.
While there’s nothing wholly original or unique about the band musically, it’s their savage and furious delivery that separates them from a growing genre that sees many mediocre emulators and clones. The drumming from Mayhemic Destructor is unrelenting and has a very specific bludgeoning effect on the senses. Iblis’s vocals really make this album for me. There’s a ferociousness in his voice that’s honest and frightening.
Among Our Glorious Existence
Iblis lets loose with a scream as the rest of the band join in with rapid fire drums and shredding riffs. The entire track is just a violent attack on your skull from all angles. The drumming is maniacal and unrelenting and Iblis’ vocals leave you shaking in your corpse paint.
Endstilles Reich
A bit more of a melodic element is present at the onset of this next song. Even with that melodic undertone, however, this is still on hell of a violent, ugly black metal track. It’s pace is impressive in it’s unwavering speed and power. The one time Endstille does slow down, it’s intentional and just long enough for the listener to catch their breathe a bit before plunging headlong into a see of chaos and hate for the remainder of the track.
Der Ketzer
The raw and murky production that the band uses on this release really puts the whole thing in a nice bloody package. The riffs are infectious and the vocals brutal in their presentation.
Vorwärts! (Sturmangriff II)
The longest track on the album at just over six minutes starts off in a mid pace groove as Iblis screams. The tempo shift on this one is a nice break from the apocalyptic pace the band has been running at nonstop for the first 15 and a half minutes of music. There are several blasts and tempo changes starting midway though this one that’ll keep any seasoned metal head on their toes.
I Am God
After the slower pace of the last track I suppose Endstille grew impatient as they explode out of the speakers with four minutes of blasphemous heresy in “I Am God.” Make sure to pay attention around the 2:50 mark for a hell of a scream and musical shift that then builds again into a monstrous burst of evil. Mayhemic Destructor may be my new drum hero after this song.
No Heaven Over Germany
Pummeling drums and evil riffs start off this next track and the tempo shifts several times in the first 40 seconds alone. Endstille have enough hatred for everything to liberally spread all over “No Heaven Over Germany.”
The One I Hate
The shortest track on the album (2:33) starts out with some slower paced riffs before the drums burst through the levy like a flood of coagulating blood. I feel sorry for the poor soul that caused the band to write this one. It’s level of evil and nastiness has no bounds and just oozes hatred from the speakers.
Scars
“Scars” starts with pummeling drums and building riffs that set the stage for Iblis to spit some of his more intensely delivered vocals. His vocal work really makes much of this album stand out amongst the other bands in the genre.
Erase
I’m sure that there are a few folks in the Vatican that would like to erase this German group from the face of the earth. I’m also sure that the feeling is mutual from Endstille’s point of view. This track is evil, ugly and raw to a degree that I don’t think anything could surpass it. It’s very well my favorite track on the album and I’ve already loved all of the tracks.
Endstille (Realität)
The final song on this impressive disc starts off with much thicker riffs than any of the previous nine tracks. It’s got a much more deliberate pace as well, giving it a monolithic feel when compared to the rest of the album’s music.
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Like I stated above, there’s nothing new under the blackened sun with this album, but it’s the band’s ferocity in their delivery that really makes this something special. The added bonus of a stripped down, raw production gives it the feeling of bands that started it all back in the day. Well done.
Favorite Tracks:
Just about all of them
Additional Notes:
n/a