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Band: Firtan
Album title: Okeanos
Release date: 13 July 2018
Label: AOP Records
Tracklist:
01. Seegang
02. Tag Verweil
03. Nacht Verweil
04. Purpur
05. Uferlos
06. Siebente, Letzte Einsamkeit
I invite you to delve into a deep ocean of poetic textures and musical mastery with the band Firtan that was founded in 2010. The band has so far released two EPs and the debut full-length released in 2014, its line-up is composed by Phillip Thienger on guitars and vocals, Oliver König on bass, David Kempf on drums and CS also on guitars. Firtan played some notable shows at festivals such as Summer Breeze and MetalDays and were supporting bands like Imperium Dekadenz, Der Weg einer Freiheit and Rotting Christ. The new album Okeanos, includes six songs with a length of 40 minutes and is inspired by avant-garde intellectuals like Nietzsche and Lovecraft. The cover artwork was created by Denis Forkas (Behemoth, etc.) and represent very well the message that is delivered.
The madness of this album is in all six tracks, it's not just the mix of styles and perfectly aligned instruments that make this album one of the strongest candidates for the best avant-garde black metal of the year. The lyrics of the tracks are impeccable and full of emotion, very well placed, with unique and original interpretation. The anguished cries performed throughout the album give space here and there for the recitation on some parts of the lyrics that as previously said were taken from the works of Nietzsche.
"Seegang" has a beautiful passage of acoustic guitar between the fast beats and features of typical black metal. The intensity is maintained as well in the following tracks, but they do not become excessive and maintain a well-distributed atmosphere of introspection. A sweet and melancholic tone is explored in "Nacht Verweil", as well the band nicely inserts some strings and flute before the madness and speed begins until to the end. "Purpur" is a sad, emotional instrumental track of just three minutes that summarizes the atmospheric parts of the previous tracks and gives the tone to the following track, "Uferlos". "Siebente Letzte Einsamkeit" is a ten minute epic closing song and without any doubt my favorite track on this album. The guttural vocal interspersed with the guitar riffs make the infernal opening undeniable and the speed starts madly and without mercy.
The atmosphere of this album is captivating, the mix of raw style with more modern touches is very well executed. Okeanos is a sophisticated and original album that won me not only for impeccable instrumental performance, but mainly for being based on one of the brightest philosophers, Frederic Nietzsche. Firtan shows excellence and acoustic ability in an original and brilliant way with Okeanos. In a mediocre and superficial world, some bands are still conspicuous because their intelligence, originality and sophistication that they show in their art, and Firtan, without further ado, is one of those bands that stand out from the anencephalic mass.
Review written by: Felin Frost
Rating: 9/10
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