But now the 2015er-plate "This Is No Fairytale". The title indicates it already on the rouged trio asks this time to story time in it by no means approaching happy and cheerful. The story is based on "Hansel and Gretel", ie an already very bleak work. The version of Carach Angren is fully capable of rendering Nightmares: Drugs and violence, abuse and murder, madness and cannibalism are just about the key points. Of course the Dutch treat their listeners in their version of the classic material and no happy ending.
Those who want to follow the story of "This Is No Fairytale", has as concept albums heard in the correct order the usual songs. Befitting a fairy tale begins with the words "Once Upon a Time" (English: "Once upon a time"). Happens here with the intro "Once Upon A Time" is only the instrumental implementation of this classic fairy upbeat. The right words are then also the first of the already known in advance track "There's No Place Like Home". This shows immediately: Carach Angren have become on their fourth album a bit brutal. The one hand has to do with the songwriting, on the other hand has been filed on the production, thus increasing the transparency of the sound increased. This details come even more to bear which sometimes has the disadvantage that the music the listener threatens to kill literally. Fortunately, the band manages at least in the first half of the album always walk the fine line between bombast and Song usefulness. What stands out also fast: Seregor is working on adapting his voice to the harder songwriting and penetrates temporarily present in regions that are usually reserved to the Death Metal. I like it, the texts are thereby more fully understood, which can only be a plus point for the sophisticated poetry of Carach Angren.
From songwriting forth one has, especially in the first half of the album (which I personally as the slightly stronger einschätze) the feeling of a radio play. The songs are of course still frosty black metal tinged (listen for example. The shimmering guitars in "Two Flies Flew Into A Black Sugar Cobweb"). However, the pieces also contain repeatedly quasi-narrative passages, backed by appropriate music. To understand what I mean, you can listen to for example the middle part of "When Crows Tick On Windows". Really creepy mood comes on the way in "Dreaming Of A Nightmare in Eden": Here Seregor told with his uncanny Krächz voice, backed by eerie instrumentation that part of the fairy tale in which the protagonists come to the gingerbread house. Especially as the witch her famous phrase is the best ("Nibble, nibble, gnaw"), of course in gloomy modified form, can formally be a chilling one. This track I would actually consider centerpiece of the plate, at least as regards the narrative part. One almost has the impression that the band would like to have more or less taken up the entire plate in this style a feeling that you know from other works of the Dutch.
It is in all the euphoria but also not be concealed that the pieces fall from the musical half of the album and a little more life from the story told as by the music. Especially with "Possessed By A Craft Of Witchery" fails as perfect as the first part of the album, to keep the play in spite of complexity clearly audible. Thus, the track seems indeed very theatrical, but ultimately incoherent to hold on as listeners. The reason is in my ears, that an attempt was made here to work story supportive with the lead guitar, which sounds a lot to me verfrickelt in effect. Ultimately, this song by my opinion the weakest musical (or rather the most difficult-to-hear) on the album. The same goes for "Killed And Served By The Devil", which is like a double bass overkill and only then is really good if Carach Angren Remove the pace a little. Even "The Witch Perished In Flames" is not convincing me particularly musical. Only the final, again aufwartende with black radio play character "Tragedy Ever After" reconciled by the music of her to mention again the unexpected story twist at the end completely.
Conclusion: "This Is No Fairytale" is more radio play than pure music album, sometimes you win even the impression that the narrative part and the lyrics of the band would have been easier, as the music. From this perspective, my overall impression is to be understood. Musically may appear covered for one or the other metal fan the 4 stars. Had I only rated the music, I would have actually given a maximum of 3. But I have tried to evaluate the work as a whole. And since it appears on my or she considers that Carach Angren tell their version of "Hansel and Gretel" convincing and outstanding. And thereby earn extra points, because I was so happy to hear the album solely because of the story (and am enthusiastic and musically of the first half).
Published on weltending.wordpress.com.
