Der Rote Milan takes flight once again.
A year after their previous EP, Schlund, the mysterious band formed by I (guitar), II (keyboards), III (vocals), V (guitar), VI (drums), and VII (bass) unveils their new work, Verlust, with Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork.
Aus der Finsternis first envelops us in a rather soothing dissonance before revealing its true form, more virulent and tortured, thanks in particular to the visceral screams that accompany the furious acceleration of intertwined melodies. The band also doesn’t hesitate to plunge us into the depths of darkness with terrifying moans and anguished keyboards, finally reaching Où allez-vous (“where are you going” in French) and its misty flow that quickly becomes tumultuous. The jerky approach fits perfectly with the irregular outburst of the song, which also knows how to calm down to hypnotize us before returning to its uncontrollable violence to join Skepsis der Existenz, which reconnects with the most scathing roots of Black Metal, particularly through its icy leads. The atmosphere is also transformed, becoming oppressive as the growls multiply before returning to rage and finally finding its way to painful melancholy with Verlust, the striking title track. Not being a German speaker, I was slow to translate this word, which already made sense through its soaring riffs that eventually explode as the pressure builds, offering refuge to cries of distress until the very last moment, followed almost immediately by the eagerness of Der letzte Rubin, which seems to feed off the energy of despair to fuel its own madness, which loses itself in the complexity of the nebulous guitars before rushing once again towards its final moments.
I wasn’t expecting much from Der Rote Milan, knowing the project only through its logo, but Verlust instantly grabbed me. From the first riffs to the final note, the band embodies its darkness with a rare visceral intensity that can only speak to the darkest hearts.
95/100