Another Paysage d’Hiver event.
Three years after its last album, the project led by Swiss multi-instrumentalist Tobias “Wintherr” Möckl (Darkspace) unveils its third album, Die Berge, on Kunsthall Produktionen.
With its seven new tracks, four of which are over a quarter-hour long, the musician offers us over an hour and a half of ambient sound rooted in a Black Metal production that is not easily accessible to the average person. While the Old School approach naturally contributes to the band’s charm, there’s a noticeable contrast between the hazy riffs from which the ominous growls emerge, and the much softer, almost soothing keyboards that appear from time to time. While I find Urgrund relatively well-paced, alternating very aerial passages with waves of raw power, Verinnerlichung is openly more aggressive, not hesitating at first to drown us very regularly under its ferocious blast before allowing us to breathe. The central trilogy begins with Transzendenz I, which offers a few steps into the blizzard before the dissonant riffs return, sheltering some enigmatic vocal parts that contribute to the eerie yet fascinating atmosphere of the track, which becomes increasingly majestic. The intensity subsides to allow Transzendenz II to take its place, offering a much slower, more haunting sound, even when the drums are more energetic, and the final calming comes as no surprise, joining Transzendenz III and its initially rather distant tones, which nevertheless end up enveloping us in heavy, melancholic tones. The apathy ends when Ausstieg begins, bringing back the possessed screams that herald the resumption of instrumental violence, which intervenes almost immediately and continuously, allowing for a few drum variations towards the center. The lull makes the sound more melodious before breaking it up to let Gipfel steer it towards sumptuous, hypnotic tones, particularly when guitars and keyboards respond to each other, gradually relaxing our spirit.
Paysage d’Hiver is rooted in an icy Old School approach that’s hard to grasp, but allows the most persevering to discover an unsuspected beauty in Die Berge.
85/100