The Pitch: Black metal based on real events of the Thirty Years' War from Germany's Der Rote Milan via Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork. FFO: IXXI, Marduk, Mayhem
What I Like: War is hell, and so is this album. From the march of the chugging chords to the harsh, militaristic command of the snarling vocals, death and destruction are imminent. And joined with the subtle backdrop of atmospheric strings and mournful melody, there's a thematically appropriate combination of anger, fear, and sorrow on display. I'm particularly fond of the hard-hitting combo of "Die Habsucht" and "Drohende Schatten," but I also appreciate the breadth of emotion and stylistic approach demonstrated over the course of these 40 minutes.
Critiques: If I'm being comletely honest, this album kind of loses me after the first two tracks. The slower, moodier approach makes sense in the context of the source material, but that doesn't change the fact that I simply prefer my black metal fast and hard. Greater fans of doom and atmospheric black metal may feel differently.
The Verdict: If you dig war-themed black metal and don't mind taking it to a slower, more repetitious pace, Moritat is probably the album for you. Personally, I found the album to be a little dull overall, but I understand the appeal and think that Der Rote Milan deliver enough raw black metal ethos to make it work.
Flight's Fav's: Die Habsucht, Drohende Schatten, Moritat
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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