Hey there!

Today’s topic is the new EP “Albtraum” by the one-man local black metal project, Archurahl, released on March 3, 2022. The man behind the project, Deniz, has taken on all production stages and album covers himself, creating a very personal space. This EP also includes some experimental works prepared with various instruments. Now, let’s embark on the 17-minute journey that “Albtraum,” featuring raw black metal and dungeon synth elements, invites us on. Enjoy reading!

The opening track, “Brutal Murder Victims,” is very aggressive and dynamic, with the chords and techniques used being wild and savage. However, the steady beat of the drums can make the song less engaging. The constant level of dynamics also makes the track feel longer than it actually is. Although raw black metal typically doesn’t include such embellishments, considering Archurahl’s innovative side and overall concept, I would have expected some passages and bridges to spice up the song a bit.

For the track “Possessed by Wickness,” I would have preferred a shorter gap between the intro and the song. It’s the most melancholic track on the EP, and compared to the others, it has a somewhat melodic side. It gives off a doom-sludge-infused black metal vibe.

“Maybe This Efforts All in Vain” starts with a piece of Nietzsche’s “God is Dead” theory. While it includes the passages I found lacking in “Brutal Murder Victims,” these passages feel somewhat unnatural. Although I think most sections individually have good ideas, I feel there are gaps in how they come together. Personally, I would have preferred a smoother transition from the ambient section to the aggressive part in the middle of the track.

Next is the 47-second track “Pure Noises of Death Agony,” recorded in 2020. This track can be seen as an interlude within the already short EP. In an interview, Archurahl mentioned using music as a tool to reflect his mood and the chaos in his mind. This interlude seems to be the most successful manifestation of that chaos.

The duo “Albtraum 1-2” for me generally aligns with the characteristics of atonal music found in horror movie scores. It also has a gothic vibe. However, I imagined the ending of one and the beginning of the other would be connected. Connecting two tracks with the same name and structure could have been a nice touch. Additionally, since they differ from the general tone of the album, they haven’t been as well-received by listeners as the other tracks.

Overall, while the ideas are good, I think the album suffers from compositional inadequacies. There seems to be a disconnection between musical phrases within the songs and between the tracks on the album. If we consider the album within the raw black metal genre with dungeon synth influences, spreading these dungeon synth elements across the intros and outros of other tracks could have created a nice concept. It might have been a good solution to address the overall lack of cohesion in the album. Fans of leading projects in the genre like Lja, Horna, and Carpathian Forest should give this a listen. As a starting point, I humbly recommend “Possessed by Wickness.” Enjoy listening!