(written by Islander)
For reasons you will soon understand, we have learned today about the Karkonosze mountains, often called “The Giant Mountains” in English literature at least since the early 1700s. We’ve learned that it is a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the southwest of Poland, part of the Sudetes mountain system, and home to the source waters of the Elbe River.
We’ve also learned that the Karkonosze region is one steeped in dark tales and ancient traditions, haunted and harrowed by mountain spirits. And most relevant to what we’re up to today, we’ve learned that the landscapes and legends of this area provided the inspiration for the debut album of the Polish black metal band Brzask, which is set for release on May 2nd by Vendetta Records. The album’s name is Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge, and it’s the album’s fascinating and highly infectious title song we’re bringing you now.
photo by Rafał Kotylak
Brzask disclose that “the influence of the mountain spirit Rübezahl runs through the album’s core, with themes of greed, betrayal, and the wisdom of those who once walked these lands shaping much of the narrative.” They have also provided descriptions of each tale their new songs narrate, and it’s worth quoting — you’ll find it at the very end of this feature, right after the links. But first, here are some (overly detailed) introductory thoughts about the album’s title song, from us not them:
“Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge” (the song) is a beautiful example of a musical novella. Though only five minutes long, it includes definable chapters in which different things happen but all of them are plainly linked together as part of the same musical narrative — though you won’t know in advance where they will lead.
A less metaphorical way of saying this is that the band establish an intriguing riff right from the start, and then after an unexpected detour they begin varying it, moving from one episode to the next. As they turn the pages, the rhythm section do a fantastic job of marking the changes. Eventually, in the song’s penultimate phase (but even before then), they’ve joined forces with the guitarists to get listener’s heads bobbing and legs jumping. (To re-tread an old cliche, if you’re not moving reflexively by then, call for emergency services.)
The voice of the song’s narrator changes too, though all the vocal variations are frightening. As the pages turn, they range from cackling shrieks to glass-gargling snarls and bear-like roars.
As mentioned, the opening riff is intriguing. While the drums blast away and the bass rumbles, it pulsates, and it sets a hook, but it does so with tones that sound both menacing and dismal. Way up high, you’ll also hear wailing tones and the fiery flickering of the lead guitar — a bright filigree that accents other chapters as well.
Then comes that unexpected interlude, a mysterious and gently beckoning kind of experience made from acoustic picking, piano keys, and shimmering ambience. From there, the riff-variations begin, led by the rhythm section’s big stomping march. As they unfold, they create moods of misery and fear, of sinister feverishness and paroxysmal madness, and of eerie grandeur – before the final twanging notes end it all.
Well, that was certainly vastly more detail than you needed, offered only in the hope that it will encourage you to listen — now:
One needless postscript: The song is highly infectious.
One necessary postscript: The album was mastered by none other than by Dan Swanö at Unisound.
BRZASK LINEUP:
J. – Vocals/bass
F. – Guitar
Dante – Guitar
Pepesza – Drums
Other important credits: The drums were recorded by Stanislaw Frey in Kristiania Studio, Oslo. Everything else was recorded in GNF Sounds in Jelenia Góra, and the album was mixed by Andrzej Jagielski, Daniel Garliński – Brzask.
Vendetta will release the album on CD, vinyl LP, and digital formats.
PRE-ORDER:
https://brzaskbm.bandcamp.com/album/der-wanderer-im-riesengebirge
VENDETTA:
https://linktr.ee/vendettarecs
BRZASK:
https://www.facebook.com/brzaskbm/
https://www.instagram.com/brzaskband/
And now here is the more detailed description of the album’s tales provided by Brzask:
“The album’s journey begins with ‘Frozen Horizon,’ a chilling tribute to those who perished in the mountains, their spirits lingering in the cold winds. The title track, ‘Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge,’ follows a seeker’s path from Thuringia to the Karkonosze mountains, uncovering lessons not found in books but in the forces of the natural world. ‘Ravens of Łomnica’ retells the tale of two brothers divided by greed. The humble brother is guided to treasure by ravens, but when his wicked sibling tries to claim the same reward, the birds turn on him in a fatal reckoning.
“‘The Herbalist’ pays tribute to the laborers and healers of Karkonosze, whose knowledge of the land’s hidden properties reflects generations of passed-down wisdom. ‘Spring of the Sacred Elbe’ explores ancient Slavic traditions tied to the Elbe River, while ‘A Tale of Sand and Fire’ tells the story of the Walloons, whose search for hidden treasures became part of the region’s history.”