Depending on its context, “karg” means barren, sparse or mean-spirited in German. “Von den Winden der Sehnsucht” (“From the Winds of Yearning”) is a sequel from the Austrian solo Black Metallist Mr v. Wahntraum (meaning delusional dream or nightmare). His vision clearly is not to bring us any joy or happiness. The grey sleeve-work with the solitary man reflecting and the supplementary notes accompanying the grim track titles – “Sturm deiner Sommer … und mit den Schwänen teile ich mein Durst” (“Storm of my summers … and I share my thirst with the swans”) – are strongly reminiscent of Burzum. Mr Wahntraum also has plenty to say. There’s 79 minutes of this follow-up.
“Ich bin gefallen” (“I fell”), the opening track, is slow and ambient. It makes dark progress, very dark progress. The eeriness and discomfort of a Burzum track is there but this is not some clone of Burzum. There are likenesses but the guitar work is deep and threatening in its own style. There’s a lot to this. It’s slightly militaristic. Mr Wahntraum is responsible for croaking out a sad, despairing, powerful and ultimately uplifting dirge – an impressive start. The mood shifts for “Wahntraum” (“Nightmare”). Echoes resound and the guitars are sirening. Violence is added to the existing threat. The sense of struggle is omnipresent. The guitars create turmoil. “Ruhe Unsanft” (“Uneven Calm”) starts with a wistful guitar-led piece before bursting into battle. Mr Wahntraum preaches a sermon. It’s gloomy, harsh like Dornenreich but in no way reflective like, say, Forgotten Tomb. Here it’s like being thrust into the middle of the battle before the mood changes again and it’s back to the wistful opening, punctuated by the nightmarish voice. We’re taken between majestic and dominant passages and then quieter ones. All of them service the same mood, that of struggle and adversity. “Sturm deiner Sommer” has a rich sound. The short background instrumental work could be the Shadows. Mr Wahntraum preaches more suffering. The equally impressive “Grubestau” (“Congestion of the Grave”) has a mellow, sophisticated and yet uncompromising acoustic beginning. We hear the sound of wind and waves. The sound is beefed up, the music is nerve-jangling and the torment is unending. The mood turns into one of intense hardship and tragedy. I thought from first listenings that “Wehmut” (“Melancholy”) might be a bit anti-climactic. Yet it is intense and becomes more dark and persistent again in the style of Burzum. Eventually it quietens down before galloping off down a new, dark path. After a slow beginning, it’s a musical feast. The album ends with “In die Ferne” (“Into the Distance”). The longer it goes on, the greater the level of anguish and despair. The track ends with one of numerous disturbing passages in German – frightening.
If pessimism is enjoyable, then here’s living proof of it. Mr Wahntraum takes us through a series of dark moods. There’s plenty of variety on “Von den Winden der Sehnsucht”, which is very powerful and impressive work.
http://www.myspace.com/kargband
http://www.karge-welten.de
