Cromlech - Of Owls and Eels

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Cromlech is a one-man black metal band from Gerline, Germany who formed in 1994 by musician Impurus.  His latest album under the moniker is “Of Owls and Eels” and it is the second full-length.

This is an album that is engaging and gripping from the intro song, “Old Incineration Hymn,” all the way through the end of its 39-minute runtime.  The energy is wild and infectious, paring well with some of the best production I’ve heard on a black metal album this year.  It sounds just raw enough to be effective, but the atmosphere, organs and keys/synths still have room to stand out–without over taking the essence of the very aggressive blackened assault. 

I don’t want to call this symphonic, atmospheric, cinematic, or melodic.  No, that wouldn’t be too easy and also imply that any one of those adjectives are the band’s main approach.  Instead, these elements are just another tool used to expand this journey.   It’s fast and harrowing yet scary and pensive all at the same time. 

The first full song, “Past Forever” is a ripper of a song, beginning with fast drums and an organ.  It’s theatrical without actually being so—each instrument, each note, has a purpose to the song yet stands on its own.  The keys/ambient noises/whatever they are add so much to the feel and vibe of the album.  It’s a bit unnerving to be honest but black metal isn’t supposed to be happy and pretty so I'm all for feeling a bit uncomfortable.  The echo on the vocals is just how I like it:  haunting but not distracting.  I can feel their venom coursing through the veins of the song like a snake slithering after its prey. 

“Ice Curse,” is definitely a frozen mini-epic as cold as the North winds.  The guitars are chilling to the bone but so cold they burn.  The drums cascade downward, bringing with them a flurry of keys and an absolutely killer guitar tone.  The middle passage goes from groove to a quiet place, but no less deadly but strange and nearly alien.  

The final song, “Mordlust,” begins all fire and brimstone, unbridled fury.  The middle passage is atmospheric, subtle hints of melody creeping in while the vocals get even more extreme. The rest of the song switches back and forth, bouts of whiplash speed and more cerebral moments each getting a chance to shine and complement each other.

Cromlech’s “Of Owls and Eels,” is a fantastic black metal album that isn’t afraid to be different even while it honors the roots of the genre. 

Rating:  Excellent














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