Rattenfänger 'Geisslerlieder' - Review Feb.2020

Dark Essence Records Release: 

6 December 2019 

Rattenfänger (Ukraine) has been reviewed in Skullfucker before with their debut album Episolae Obscurorum Virorum & it was very welcome here to say the least. A excellent debut album of old school death metal the way I prefer it. I even went as far as comparing them to old Darkthrone. On Geisslerlieder I sometimes hear some more resemblance to Asphyx, a band I still enjoy. Consisting of musicians from bands such as Drudkh, Blood of Kingu, Hate Forest and Dark Ages.

The name Rattenfänger is taken from the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin (Rattenfänger von Hameln), who was hired by the townsfolk of Hameln, Germany to rid the town of the rats that had overrun it. Unfortunately he is deceived and cheated of his payment, and he exacts a dreadful revenge on the citizens. As on the previous album, all the lyrics are in Latin, written in style of medieval poets, thinkers and troubadours/minstrels. 

Geisslerlieder starts of with an medieval sounding intro and all of a sudden the music blast off. It's relatively fast death metal with a very dark & haunting atmosphere and I notice that the sound seems a bit more harsh & brutal. That being said there are some more mid-tempo tracks among the toal of 7 tracks that are delivered on Geisslerlieder. The gutturals are dark as night and there is no happiness heare but there are some extremely cool hooks & riffs throughout the whole album. I also have to give credit do the drummer for some brilliant work, the rest of the musisicianship is nothing to complain about either. 

Rattenfänger still use some synth and weird fx but not dominating and often, just to set a certain mood sometimes. I also do enjoy the spoken samples they sometimes use on Geisslerlieder and used on Episolae Obscurorum Virorum. I was unsure if I'd hear more from these guys and if they would live up to it with their dark,twisted,obscure death metal in the veins of early 90's deth metal or late 80's if you want. Personally I see it as a natural developement and continuation from their debut Episolae Obscurorum Virorum into even more darker realms if thats possible If it's better tham their debut I can't teall yet 'cause this album has some "hidden" melodies and elements that keep growing for each listen.

Hopefully Rattenfänger will get the attention they deserve 'cause they are truly good at delivering what the do best , real death metal the oldschool way that is!

If you like bands like Apshyx,ealry Darkthrone,Bolthrwower,Aeternus etc you should definately check this brilliant act out! 

Gravarson_almighty

Line-up:
 Thurios - guitars
 Krechet - bass
 Vlad - drums, keyboards
 Roman - guitars, vocals