Release Date March 27th, 2026
Format Digital/LP/CD
Genre Black Metal
Origin Germany
Abkehr formed in Northern Germany back in 2015, starting as the vision of Raash and H. and later growing into a four-piece unit that still keeps the cold emotional pulse of its early days intact. Their sound sits deep inside black metal, though the band avoids locking itself into one narrow corner of the genre. Across previous albums like "In Asche", "In Feuer", and "In Blut", they shaped a bleak and introspective identity through long-form songwriting, repetition, and oppressive atmosphere. With "…Dem Willen Zur Macht Und Dem Vergessen", the band continues that path with an album that sounds emotionally drained, spiritually bitter, and fully committed to its grim worldview.
"…Dem Willen Zur Macht Und Dem Vergessen" has an exhausted spirit that fits its themes perfectly. The album circles around collapse, decay, and the remains of human arrogance without turning theatrical or exaggerated. Abkehr build tension through extended passages and recurring ideas, giving the material a hypnotic quality that slowly pulls the listener deeper into its bleak atmosphere. The riffs are cold and repetitive in the best possible way, creating a trance-like flow that suits the album’s philosophical direction. There is very little relief here, and that works in the album’s favor because the oppressive nature of the music matches the lyrical focus closely.
The performances across the album are strong without drifting into technical excess. Raash delivers vocals with a tortured and distant presence that fits naturally into the music instead of overpowering it. The guitar work balances aggression and atmosphere effectively, while the rhythm section gives the songs a heavy and relentless pulse. Abkehr avoid unnecessary ornamentation and focus on creating immersion through pacing and emotional pressure. The result is an album that feels genuinely bleak without sounding artificial or exaggerated for effect.
What gives this album its strongest moments is the way it maintains emotional consistency. Even during its more atmospheric sections, there is always an underlying feeling of collapse and emptiness hanging over the music. At the same time, the album occasionally drifts too deeply into repetition, and some passages stretch longer than needed without adding much new intensity. That does not ruin the experience, though it does stop the album from reaching a higher level. Fans expecting constant aggression may also find its pacing more introspective and meditative than expected from traditional second-wave black metal.
For listeners into bands like Ash Borer or Weakling, this album offers a bleak and absorbing experience that values atmosphere and emotional weight over instant impact. "…Dem Willen Zur Macht Und Dem Vergessen" is worth picking up for anyone interested in black metal that sinks into existential despair and long-form immersion instead of simple aggression. Those searching for sharper hooks or more dynamic songwriting may not fully connect with it, though fans of atmospheric and reflective black metal will likely find plenty here to return to over time.
| 7.5
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