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Band: The Devil & The Universe
Album title: Walpern III - Hexenforst [EP]
Release date: 30 April 2016
Label: [aufnahme + wiedergabe]
Tracklist:
01. Hexenforst
02. Aconitum
03. Osculum Infame III (Hexenforst Mix)
04. Atropa Belladonna
It was right in time to celebrate the Walpurgis Night, the night of a witches' meeting, that came the new instalment of Walpern, the third EP of the series from Austrian occultists, the three men hidding behind the goat masks, The Devil & The Universe. I think that Terra Relicta readers and followers don't need any kind of introduction about this act, who in a short time since their formation in 2013, already released three full-lenght albums and a bunch of EP's, the last one titled Benedicere came out in December last year. Now, on Walpern III - Hexenforst The Devil & The Universe presents four tracks that are maybe their darkest work to date, a work which was born in shadow to remain in dusk.
All the possible gloom and mysticism seems to be extracted out of their previous releases and incorporated right here. There's no place for humour which was present in almost every release so far, maybe it's inherited in a subconscious way, instead of that there's some serious darkness, brought to surface in kind of a vibrant magical form, here we can talk about a bit more than 15 minutes of dark ambient, horror, occult and ritual music. Right away with the cinematic meditative obscure opener "Hexenforst" the listener is taken into the world of shadows, it seems like a procreation of a sinister mind, in a way beautiful, tranquil, but perverse and shady. The real ritual starts with impactful tribalistic percussions and repetitive oriental chants on "Aconitum". The hypnotically poisonous waves and beats of damaged spiritual sequences and mind challenging industrial noises is penetrating your mind like a chaotic brain penetrator in the very next one, "Osculum Infame III - Hexenforst Mix", a track that follows the first two parts released last year on the same date, on the EP Walpern II - The Blocksberg Sessions. The last one in here, "Atropa Belladonna" is the soothing one, just like if the skies opened a bit from this creepy insanity so the listener can ease his mind instead of being thrown into the complete void.
The Devil & The Universe keeps on stunning those of us who are constantly in expectation what kind of sonic perversion this time they will compose and even if Walpern III - Hexenforst has a short playing time it offers so much of darkness and obscure soundscapes that could be the right accompaniment to any kind of artistical occult movie. It gives shivers and if you just close your eyes and try to be taken away by this sounds than expect to witness a gathering of ever dwelling souls of witches, who can't find their peace while performing their most sinister and ultimate witchery. That's all about in Walpern III - Hexenforst, you have been warned. Ghosts, witches and goats are all over!
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 8/10
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