Schattenfall/Das Verderben/Redefining Darkness Records/Wolfspell Records/2020 EP Review

  Germany's  Schattenfall  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  depressive  and  atmospheric  black  metal  style  of  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  ep  "Das  Verderben"  which  will  be  released  on  February  28th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Redefining  Darkness  and  Wolfspell  Records.

  Powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  avant  garde  elements.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  most  of  the  music  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  style  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Schattenfall  remains  true  to  the  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  from  their  previous  releases  as  well  as  adding  in  some  avant  garde  touches  to  take  their  style  to  another  level.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  are  based  upon  poems  written  by  Goethe,  Heine  and  Benn".

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Schattenfall  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Der  Schiffbruchige".  8  out  of  10.

PREORDER CD / Digital
Redefining Darkness Records ( U.S.)
Wolfspell Records (Europe)

Schattenfall Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

We started recording this album almost immediately after the release of Schatten in Schwarz. But during the recording there were some differences of opinions with our previous vocalist.
The search for a new vocalist took quite a lot of time, but fortunately Stefan Traunmüller accepted our invitation. Which resulted in a rather productive cooperation.

2.In March you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the album you had released in 2017?

New album is full of experiments, in contrast to the album of 2017: clean vocals, female vocals, more instrumental tracks, samples, and more.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

On the “Melancholie des Seins” we used poems of German and Austrian poets. The main topics of album are loneliness, melancholy and autumn..

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Schattenfall'?

Creativity is always something unknown, the mystery of the manifestation of what was hidden in the shadows

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

All artwork was created by Valeria Metzker. She tried to convey the atmosphere of the album to the maximum - blurry images protruding from the darkness.

6.The band members live in Germany, Austria and Ukraine, how does this work out in the recording process/

It is not very difficult for us. Each works with his own part, making changes at different etaps. When we are satisfied with the result (never), we finish one track and going to the next one.

7.If the opportunity ever came would the band members be open to doing a live show or tour?

No idea, will see.

8.So far the band has worked with 'Wolfspell Records'and 'Redefining Darkness Records', do you feel both of these labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?

Yes. I sincerely thank full them for it.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of atmospheric black metal?

To my surprise, the first album responded quite warmly. What of course pleases me.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Now I am working on a dark electric / industrial metal project. In this band will be also vocal by Stefan Traunmüller. I have some ideas for the another projects, but now there are only a few home demo tracks.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

I am going to make my music more aggressive and fast, closer to the classic atmospheric black metal.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I don’t think that it would be correct to say that something specific inspired me to this album. I listen to quite a lot of different music, and there is not so much black metal among it.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for the questions and for that you help to carry our shadows to the world!

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Schattenfall/Melancholie des Seins/Redefining Darkness Records/2019 Full Length Review

  Schattenfall  are a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Melancholie  des  Seins"  which  will  be  released  on  March  22nd  by  Redefining  Darkness  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  atmospheric  yet  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  music.

  At  times  the  music  also  shows  an  influence  of  90's  era  Norwegian  avant  garde  black  metal  as  well  as  some  clean  and  classical  guitars  also  being  added  onto  some  of  the  later  tracks.  A  couple  of  the  songs  are  instrumentals  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  dark,  depressive  and  melancholic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Schattenfall  which  shows  them  adding  more  avant  garde  elements  to  their  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Melancholie  des  Seins"  "Blatterfall"  and  "Ein  Riss  durch  alle  Leben".  8  out  of  10.

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Schattenfall/Schatten in Schwarz/Redefining Darkness Records/2018 CD Review

  Schattenfall are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Schatten  in  Schwarz"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Redefining  Darkness  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  melodic  vocals  and  they  also  mix  the  atmospheric  and  heavy  parts  together.

  A  decent  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  a  more  raw  feeling.

   Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  ambient  keyboards  are  also  utilized  on  some  of  the  songs  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  returning  on  later  songs  as  the  album  progresses  and  on  the  closing  track  melodic  vocals a re  also  used  briefly.

  Schattenfall  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  sounding,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Schattenfall  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genres, you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Angst  meiner  Fantasie"  and  "Die  Klagan  von  Grau".  8  out  of  10.

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