Waldgefluster – Knochengesänge
Waldgefluster – Knochengesänge
AOP Records
07/11/2025
7.5/10
Review by Oli Gonzalez
Germany’s underground Black Metal scene has produced some scorching bands in recent years. Ultha, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Groza, and Kannonenfieber are just a few examples of talent on the darker side of metal from the nation. Deep in the woodlands of Munich, a different, more emotional take on the genre was created in the autumn of 2005; Waldgefluster. 20 years on, the band release “Knochengesänge”, which will offer listeners ‘the chance to experience the same pieces in different variants – deep, emotional, and powerful’. Having seen the band perform at both Fortress and Samhain festivals, I can attest to how this manifests in a live setting. How will this emotion transpire on this album?
Emotion. They weren’t lying. This is absolutely dripping in unfiltered raw sentiment! They seem to take a slower, more deliberate approach to their music, preferring to bludgeon your senses with densely layered walls of sound. ‘Von Hypnos und Thanatos’ is one of the better examples of that, with the thick tones coming from the guitars and bass, along with the sprinklings of violins and pianos in the background designed to tug on your heartstrings at optimal moments. Stay for the blistering guitar leads, too! ‘The Little King and his Architect’ offers additional insight into the skills of Dominik and Markus on the guitars, and their mastery of the pedal board to craft wonderful, tear-jerking tones.
Vocally, Winterherz is central to this emotional output. Whether it’s his charged screams in ‘Der kleinste König und sein Architekt’, or the sorrow-filled cleans in ‘Das Klagelied der Krähen’, there’s no shortage of opportunities to witness a truly harrowing and anguished voice. He switches effortlessly between English and German, with the output being exactly the same no matter the language.
One of the lead singles, ‘Crusade In the Dark’ is perhaps the strongest song on the album. It encapsulates all these elements into one neat package, with an instantly memorable and anthemic chorus!
One issue though, and it’s pretty significant; the length. The album length. Totalling nearly 2 hours and with songs consistently hovering around the 10 minute mark, this feels like more of an effort than it should be at times. It’s a big ask for today when music is largely consumed via streaming, and competition for airtime is fiercer than ever. Perhaps ‘Parting Glass’ would be more suitable for those with shorter attention span, letting the listener know what the band can do in less than five minutes. Perhaps this more indulgent album length provides more of an immersive, deep listen to a very underrated band in Germany’s Black Metal scene.
TRACK LISTING:
PART I
01. Krähenpsalme (feat. Austin Lunn of Panopticon)
02. Bamberg, 20. Juni
03. Der kleinste König und sein Architekt
04. Von Hypnos und Thanatos
05. Lethe – Der Fluch des Schaffenden (feat. Alboin of Eïs)
06. Knochengesang
07. The Parting Glass
PART II
01. Das Klagelied der Krähen
02. Frankfurt, 19. März
03. The Little King and his Architect (feat. Austin Lunn on drums)
04. Crusade in the Dark
05. In Lethes Fluten
06. Singing of Bones
07. The Parting Glass
LINKS:
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