In April, Einheit will be discharging the self-titled debut album of a German black metal band named Ferndal, whose influences are described by Einheit as “reaching from Darkthrone to Windir, from Beethoven to Arvo P?rt and from baroque grace to romantic melancholy, within a veil of pure black metal aggression”. Is it any wonder I paused in my scurrying to have a listen to the first teaser of music? Ferndal come from M?nsterland in German Westphalia, with a line-up that includes Albo?n (drums) and Abarus (guitars) from the band E?s along with main composers/lyricists Sorathiel (bass and vocals) and Lestaya (violoncello), as well as guitarist Sethras Did you notice that one of the members is a cellist? The cello does make vibrant appearances in the song, interspersed among slashing and blasting metal instrumentation and clawing vocals — and among other passages that include a swinging, dancelike air and even slower movements drenched in melancholy. There’s a folk-like flair in the song’s melodies, which are expressed in part through clean vocal harmonies, and they get their hooks under the skin quite effectively. But this multifaceted track is a heavy beast, too.
