Genre: Black metal
Origin: Germany
Released: 2009
Website: Idisenfluch
Label: Black Devastation Records
Uploaded: 10.09.09

I’m not really sure what to think of this demo. It’s the band’s debut, so I suppose they still have some ways to go honing their sound and style, but it definitely has its ups and downs. The emotional piano intro of Leblos sounds very promising. But suddenly I feel like turning the damn thing of when they start howling. I just can’t stand it; high-pitched annoying shrieks that I suppose is meant to sound desperate, but end up absolutely ridonculous instead.
Musically this is very well-written, and the melancholy they want to get across is pretty well-handed to you. Take for instance the ending track; Ein letzter hauch von leben. A slow tempo where the bass drum (while still remaining quite slow) takes the lead, accompanied by repetitive cold riffing that sets the tone. While the riffing in itself would be enough to sound melancholic, the added atmosphere of the piano makes it very daunting. Fortunately here the vocals aren’t as overwhelmingly howled, and sounds restrained to a level where I can cope with it. But they do also spice the vocal part up; throwing in some more conventional black metal screams. Thus, this track remains the best one overall as the melancholy is very present.
I wouldn’t derogate the effectiveness of the remaining material, however. …In der ensamkeit is one and a half minute of beautiful piano play, with the added crackle of vinyl, giving it a haunting aura. Cool to add that to a CD release. The other two tracks are also of a high standard with good melodic guitar lines and great piano melodies. The eerie choir in Leblos works great together with the gnarly screams, but unfortunately they just don’t stop howling.
I suppose it’s the piano aspect of Idisenfluch that makes them stand out from the crowd of generic ‘depressive black metal’ bands. But I still can’t really get past the annoying effect the howling vocals bring to the table, as it definitely takes away from the overall power of the tunes. I mean; they have the riffing down, they have some cool ideas, decent production (and not horrific, as many acts of this style) and good vocals when he doesn’t sound like a tortured eunuch. It didn’t sound good when Vikernes did it, and it certainly doesn’t sound any better now. But sans eunuch vocals and with a little more power in the production they would top so many bands off, so I hope for that next time around.

Tracklist:
01. Leblos
02. Verwelkt
03. …In der ensamkeit
04. Ein letzter hauch von leben