Shrike - Hinab In Die Vertraute Fremdheit
The name Shrike is inspired by a literary character of Dan Simmons "The Hyperion Cantos". In the story Shrike is a capricious creature, which influences his surroundings but at the same time isn't affected by others. The band Shrike was founded in May 2006, Shrike are ready with their second album "Hinab In Die Vertraute Fremdheit" which will be released in June 2013. Shrike distances themselves from every kind of extreme ideology and inhuman believes (like racism, violence etc.). Black Metal is neither war nor a propaganda instrument. Black Metal changes and strengthens feelings, emotions and the subjective perception of the inner and outer world. This is what Shrike stands for and they don't want it to be changed.
Der Morgen – The Morning
This track offers a very dark and sombre distorted view of impressive and menacing black metal, its outreached limbs stretching into obscurity.
Der Tag – The Day
A much distorted track – not sure if it should be this distorted or not, but I am sure it could be of better quality. However in the typical vein of black metal with soaring tendencies and submerged in the devilish practises that accompany its genre it rates as mediocre.
Der Abend – The Evening
Some tender stringed moments on an acoustic guitar however spoilt somewhat by distorted voices that tend to solder themselves into one solid lump. Its redeeming quality is that it is sung in German.
Die Dämmerung – The Twilight
An atmospheric track that is heavily sedated despite its scathing vocal and debilitating rhythms. The distortion is clearly audible and does not help its case although if produced clearer could be a more enticing track.
Die Traum – The Dream
Although the track is passionately driven again the distortion just overshadows its dark core and therefore does not allow the listener to get fully immersed into its savagery.
Die Zeit – The Time
Sadly the coming through hardship has not been achieved on this track and is somewhat disappointing. It does not offer anything new but sticks to its comfort zone like a Tiger devouring a bone with the added annoyance of yet more distortion which has been overdone in my honest opinion.
Zeitlos - Timeless
Another atmospheric track that delves into the psychi and is quite stunning casting dark evil shadows into a malevolent rampage of constant menace and so far my favourite track on the album. It houses a deep provocation of twisting blackness that has an extreme appetite for primal lust deep within its rhythms. Vocally stunning the added whispers are not distorted and it is clear from this track that there is more to Shrike than meets the evil eye.
Schmerzen - Pain
A sparse opening with a shrieking female vocal accompanied by the harsh male vocal and a good contrast from the previous tracks. It also possesses some rousing moments of solid percussion and stunning riffs moving slightly away from its black metal roots but not too far. However it is more diverse and offers something a little different within its black metal confines. Powerful to the end of its sinister offering.
Slightly disappointing, although the last two tracks ‘Zeitlos’ and ‘Schmerzen’ do offer some hope but the distortion throughout the album has somewhat spoilt it for me as it sounds in places to have been recorded in a garage or someone’s bedroom. I was right however with the last two tracks as they sound a lot more crisp and offer some melodic moments that are a welcome change from the tedious black metal dirges.
Der Morgen – The Morning
This track offers a very dark and sombre distorted view of impressive and menacing black metal, its outreached limbs stretching into obscurity.
Der Tag – The Day
A much distorted track – not sure if it should be this distorted or not, but I am sure it could be of better quality. However in the typical vein of black metal with soaring tendencies and submerged in the devilish practises that accompany its genre it rates as mediocre.
Der Abend – The Evening
Some tender stringed moments on an acoustic guitar however spoilt somewhat by distorted voices that tend to solder themselves into one solid lump. Its redeeming quality is that it is sung in German.
Die Dämmerung – The Twilight
An atmospheric track that is heavily sedated despite its scathing vocal and debilitating rhythms. The distortion is clearly audible and does not help its case although if produced clearer could be a more enticing track.
Die Traum – The Dream
Although the track is passionately driven again the distortion just overshadows its dark core and therefore does not allow the listener to get fully immersed into its savagery.
Die Zeit – The Time
Sadly the coming through hardship has not been achieved on this track and is somewhat disappointing. It does not offer anything new but sticks to its comfort zone like a Tiger devouring a bone with the added annoyance of yet more distortion which has been overdone in my honest opinion.
Zeitlos - Timeless
Another atmospheric track that delves into the psychi and is quite stunning casting dark evil shadows into a malevolent rampage of constant menace and so far my favourite track on the album. It houses a deep provocation of twisting blackness that has an extreme appetite for primal lust deep within its rhythms. Vocally stunning the added whispers are not distorted and it is clear from this track that there is more to Shrike than meets the evil eye.
Schmerzen - Pain
A sparse opening with a shrieking female vocal accompanied by the harsh male vocal and a good contrast from the previous tracks. It also possesses some rousing moments of solid percussion and stunning riffs moving slightly away from its black metal roots but not too far. However it is more diverse and offers something a little different within its black metal confines. Powerful to the end of its sinister offering.
Slightly disappointing, although the last two tracks ‘Zeitlos’ and ‘Schmerzen’ do offer some hope but the distortion throughout the album has somewhat spoilt it for me as it sounds in places to have been recorded in a garage or someone’s bedroom. I was right however with the last two tracks as they sound a lot more crisp and offer some melodic moments that are a welcome change from the tedious black metal dirges.