Adversus - Der Zeit abhanden
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Adversus is a German band, that performs music described by themselves as a romantic black metal. In December 2010, they released their third studio album "Der Zeit abhanden", which is accompanied by a distinct concept implemented in the right way, among others by the compositions themselves and the content of a published box.
The group objective was to create an eleven musical fairy tales, that will correspond to the stories written by the leader of the formation - Rosendorn – occupying more than 160 pages and attached in a form of the book with a physical album release.
Album is opened with "Prologue", which clearly means to suggest, that we just sit down to the fire, to listen to the history of a storyteller with an explicit fondness for fantastical, but also the gruesome stories. This instrumental track is expressing well, with what we have to deal with, listening to "Der Zeit abhandeln" – it begins with a calm melody played by the string instruments and a flute, to suddenly change to the theme as if taken alive from a horror movie. And then we go to the relevant part of the story.
Adversus’ music style reminds me achievements of Haggard. Combination of metal, opera singing, references to neoclassical, instruments and their music compositions qualify them as a medieval. But that's not all. Adversus decided to add to this hybrid electronic components - nay, "Unter den Hüllen" would perform well on a dark electro party - and you can count it definitely in favor. A good innovation is also the introduction of the live drums to the band’s music.
You would think, it is a bomb. But why the most of the tracks sound as an average, symphonic gothic metal? Certainly do not expect much from black weight (although it appears in the penultimate track of the list "In des Hades Tiefen"), metal elements have been limited, and their sound seems to be flat. Because of this, you can not really be sure, what the members of Adversus wanted - whether is it still metal or already medieval with its elements? I'd like to hear them without the guitars, which seem for me to be unnecessary in their music, but with a higher dose of electronics. The more, compositions themselves can not be accused of much in the classical layer - especially string instruments are pleasant to listen to, sometimes even with bated breath. As it comes to the vocal, partly irritates only the cry of Rosendorn. I understand, that this is, however, metal and a fairy tale design, but do you necessary have to sound like Rumpelstilzchen? Fortunately clear vocal - soprano and a male vocal that appears here and there – both are at a high level. And one thing you can not blame the formation for- their main objective has been met, listener really seems to have been moved into a world similar to one of the Grimm Brothers tales.
The strongest points seem to be hymns "Brüder", intriguing "Einer Nacht Gewesenes", electronic "Unter den Hüllen" or more peaceful "Das Mädchen mit den Grablichtern". Instrumental "Entropia" is captivating. Somehow as it goes further, the more the record begins to bore - this is probably the effect of the compositions’ length, most of them lasts more than 6 or more than 8 minutes (altogether almost 78) at the same time with absence of more specific moments.
I recommend this album mainly to symphonic metal fanatics, but also to supporters of neo-classical music, neofolk or medieval. And if someone is interested, how Adversus concept works as a visual medium – I refer to the clip "Ein Ding im Spiegel".
Tracklist:
01. Prolog
02. Gespinste
03. Brüder
04. Unter den Hüllen
05. Einer Nacht Gewesenes
06. Entropia
07. Ein Ding im Spiegel
08. Das Mädchen mit den Grablichtern
09. Feuersbrunst im Jammertal
10. Dies' minniglich' Lied
11. Kellerkind
12. In des Hades Tiefen
13. Epilog
The group objective was to create an eleven musical fairy tales, that will correspond to the stories written by the leader of the formation - Rosendorn – occupying more than 160 pages and attached in a form of the book with a physical album release.
Album is opened with "Prologue", which clearly means to suggest, that we just sit down to the fire, to listen to the history of a storyteller with an explicit fondness for fantastical, but also the gruesome stories. This instrumental track is expressing well, with what we have to deal with, listening to "Der Zeit abhandeln" – it begins with a calm melody played by the string instruments and a flute, to suddenly change to the theme as if taken alive from a horror movie. And then we go to the relevant part of the story.
Adversus’ music style reminds me achievements of Haggard. Combination of metal, opera singing, references to neoclassical, instruments and their music compositions qualify them as a medieval. But that's not all. Adversus decided to add to this hybrid electronic components - nay, "Unter den Hüllen" would perform well on a dark electro party - and you can count it definitely in favor. A good innovation is also the introduction of the live drums to the band’s music.
You would think, it is a bomb. But why the most of the tracks sound as an average, symphonic gothic metal? Certainly do not expect much from black weight (although it appears in the penultimate track of the list "In des Hades Tiefen"), metal elements have been limited, and their sound seems to be flat. Because of this, you can not really be sure, what the members of Adversus wanted - whether is it still metal or already medieval with its elements? I'd like to hear them without the guitars, which seem for me to be unnecessary in their music, but with a higher dose of electronics. The more, compositions themselves can not be accused of much in the classical layer - especially string instruments are pleasant to listen to, sometimes even with bated breath. As it comes to the vocal, partly irritates only the cry of Rosendorn. I understand, that this is, however, metal and a fairy tale design, but do you necessary have to sound like Rumpelstilzchen? Fortunately clear vocal - soprano and a male vocal that appears here and there – both are at a high level. And one thing you can not blame the formation for- their main objective has been met, listener really seems to have been moved into a world similar to one of the Grimm Brothers tales.
The strongest points seem to be hymns "Brüder", intriguing "Einer Nacht Gewesenes", electronic "Unter den Hüllen" or more peaceful "Das Mädchen mit den Grablichtern". Instrumental "Entropia" is captivating. Somehow as it goes further, the more the record begins to bore - this is probably the effect of the compositions’ length, most of them lasts more than 6 or more than 8 minutes (altogether almost 78) at the same time with absence of more specific moments.
I recommend this album mainly to symphonic metal fanatics, but also to supporters of neo-classical music, neofolk or medieval. And if someone is interested, how Adversus concept works as a visual medium – I refer to the clip "Ein Ding im Spiegel".
Tracklist:
01. Prolog
02. Gespinste
03. Brüder
04. Unter den Hüllen
05. Einer Nacht Gewesenes
06. Entropia
07. Ein Ding im Spiegel
08. Das Mädchen mit den Grablichtern
09. Feuersbrunst im Jammertal
10. Dies' minniglich' Lied
11. Kellerkind
12. In des Hades Tiefen
13. Epilog
