Dornenreich – Freiheit (2014)

Receiving this release with the bittersweet news that this will be the last Dornenreich release for a while, “Freiheit” is the band’s eight studio album in 18 years. Even though the band is not splitting up or anything, the band leaves us with a very unique release that combines both aspects of the band over the years: their dark neo-folk incursions and the more traditional Pagan/Black Metal elements. With eight tracks and over 45 minutes of music, the listener will accompany Dornenreich into their very special world.

The dramatic “Im ersten aller Spiele” opens with piercing violins and lush string instruments. There is something about the spoken German vocals that adds a great level of depth to the band’s unique music. “Von Kraft und Wunsch und jungen Federn” continues with a very dramatic and heartfelt approach, with hasty vocals and some intense sections, we can instantly feel the mood transmitted by the band in this track. Things turn darker and slower once more with one of our favorites “Des Meeres Atmen”, a very melancholic and enchanting tune.

Reaching a climaxing moment, “Das Licht vertraut der Nacht” is a very heavy song that features distorted electric guitars and an intense vocal performance with gut-wrenching screams. As the band stated, this is a very emotional and diverse release and this track is great evidence of this. The mood stays tense with the powerful “Aus Mut gewirkt”, another track with electric instruments and a very intense aura around it. Our favorite song in this release is the exciting “Im Fluß die Flammen” with a perfect combination of solemn acoustic guitars and very up-beat percussions.

Drawing to a close, the album continues with a slower paced song, “Traumestraum”, which nicely combines the Folk and the Metal elements in a very low-key and natural way. With the desolate “Blume der Stille” closing this release, we are left with a very somber song to wait for the next release of the band. The arrangements on this last song feel very special and once the listener gets to hear it, will agree with us. Dornenreich always being a complex entity manages to capture its essence perfectly on “Freiheit”. As a truly complex and full of depth release, we are still going to be listening to it for years to come.

Label: Prophecy Productions

Release: May 2nd, 2014

Genre: Neo-folk / Experimental Metal

Country: Austria