Album Review: Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Innern
Reviewed by Rich Oliver
Black metal is probably the most versatile and diverse subgenre within metal. One band that has continually pushed the boundaries of black metal since their formation is Der Weg Einer Freiheit who have managed to push black metal into different territories without compromising on the integrity and intensity of the black metal. The band have always taken a step forward with each release and that pushing of boundaries continues with the band’s sixth album “Innern”
The band have described “Innern” as their most introspective and compositionally expansive work to date. The album title translates to Inward and is a meditation on suffering, transformation and the fragile thresholds of the human psyche. The band’s sound combines the fury of black metal, the atmosphere of post-metal and the boundary-less freedom of progressive metal. Atmospheric, melodic and aggressive are three words that could be used to describe the music which makes up the six songs on “Innern”. The album starts with its two lengthiest songs with the doom-laden ‘Marter’ and the emotionally charged ‘Xibalba’ which are both huge, shifting and expansive compositions. Personal highlights include the absolutely crushing ‘Eos’ which is easily the most violent song on the album, the bleak and desolate ‘Fragment’ and the stunning album closer ‘Forlorn’ which is a truly beautiful piece of music drenched in melancholy and sorrow and guaranteed to have arm hairs standing on end.
The performances from Der Weg Einer Freiheit are stunning throughout. The line-up remains almost the same as on previous album “Noktvrn” with new bass player Alan Noruspur making his recording debut with the band. The vocals from frontman (and sole original member) Nikita Kamprad are stunning with further use of the clean vocals that made their appearance on “Noktvrn”.
Black metal is at its most interesting when it is pushed and pulled in multiple directions and that is certainly the case here. The progressive, melodic and atmospheric elements are perfectly interwoven through the band’s black metal attack and “Innern” feels like an album that takes you on an emotional journey. The band continue to stun and continue their run of extremely impressive albums. Der Weg Einer Freiheit continue to be one of the most essential black metal bands of the 21st century.
