There are two Sieghetnar-re-issues that recently came my way, i.e. one being the third full length by this project, Bewußtseinserweiterung, which I will review very soon (watch out!), and one for the first demo out of three done in 2008, called Endlösung. This review will deal with that one.
Endlösung was done entirely by Sieghetnar’s sole member Thorkraft, and it was totally instrumental. It came out in an edition of 100 copies only and was self-released. Kunsthauch did a first re-release in 2010 with new artwork. But it’s not the artwork that made the biggest difference. The re-issue did include vocals, recorded afterwards by Thorkraft. And the very same label now offers a new edition, being a very limited (33 copies) jewel case with inclusion of a t-shirt and a poster.
This recording lasts for about half an hour and consists of one ‘track’ only, divided in six chapters. As mentioned above, this time it comes with vocals, though the main focus still lies on the instrumental passages. Endlösung opens with Kapitel I: Entschluss, bringing naturally-floating, mesmerizing, tranquilising and somewhat loungy (Dark) ambient with a mostly oppressive, slightly desolate atmosphere. Besides, it has a neo-cosmic touch, courtesy of the softly-electronised additions. After five minutes, and then we’re moving over to a next Kapitel, things start digging deeper in spheres of melancholy and sadness at the one hand, and ominous malignancy at the other. After about eight minutes, acoustic guitars and rhythmic percussions join in, bringing a somewhat psychedelic undertone, and at about eleven minutes, all of it becomes more abyssal with the presence of minimal-repetitive electric guitar riffs. And then, finally, when we’re approaching half of the composition, all Hell breaks loose. Still heavily supported by atmospheric synth lines, the slow-paced Ambient-Black Metal breathes a sulphuric, venomous stench of anger and despair, filled with introvert yet externally-minded hate and disgust. Besides, from time to time it’s somewhat epic and victorious in its execution. The last ten minutes of this long-stretched journey is purely Ambient-driven once again, with the cosmic touch that did penetrate some parts at the first quarter of the trip too.
The majority of Endlösung is, as mentioned, focused on a Dark / Cosmic Ambient approach, with projects like Vinterriket, Winterblood or even Treha Sektori coming to mind, while the Black Metal (and then I think I can mention the likes of Lustre, very early Burzum or early All The Cold) injections are restricted to a minimum, but if a non-negligible might. But the whole concept is bleak and dark, and that’s the way I like it.