Thorngoth – Leere
If you agree that rainfall, the tides, wind, and static can sometimes be mesmerizing, you should be able to connect with Thorngoth’s music in the same way that I do.
What we’re dealing with here is complete and utter black metal from Germany. Seventy-five percent of the playing time on this album is occupied by a combination of tremolo picking, blast beats, and demonic vocals. While that may sound like a general description of black metal, the unrelenting assault Thorngoth display on Leere is beyond the genre’s basic criteria. By never letting up, the band effectively creates a dark envelope of sound and atmosphere that you can lose yourself in completely.
Do note the word “sometimes” in the first paragraph though. In the same way that sitting back and observing natural or electronic phenomena is something only suited to certain moods, Thorngoth’s music is not casual listening in any way. Like most black metal, you really have to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Basically, you can completely write it off any time the sun is out or if you’re in a cheerful mood.
The parts where Thorngoth are not blasting down the heavens are occupied by compelling and immersive sections composed of groove and atmosphere. The use of the German language for the vocals is also great, because, as any fan of Rammstein will know, it adds an additional air of command and graveness to what is being said.
I really can’t comment on lyrical content or themes here since I don’t speak German, but a quick translator search of “Leere” reveals that it means “emptiness”. Given that all the songs are called Leere and numbered I through VIII, I’d assume this is some pretty nihilistic and demoralizing stuff. The only thing that hurts the overall image in my opinion is the band name. “Thorngoth” seems kind of silly when you break it into two words…
All in all, this album could probably be used as a psychological weapon. Why play Metallica on loudspeakers in war zones to scare the enemy when this exists? Don’t get me wrong; I love it. It just makes me feel like lying on the floor and staring off into space until the world explodes.
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6 Comments
August 20th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
"What we’re dealing with here is complete and utter black metal from Germany."
This made me happy. Really happy.
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August 21st, 2010 at 9:55 am
At times this reminds me of Belphegor, probably because of the German. All in all I'm quite found of this album!
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René replied:
August 21st, 2010 at 9:57 am
Fond of this album, of course.
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August 22nd, 2010 at 8:37 am
Oh how I hate black metal and all it's stupid stereotypes. Being an early fan of Mayhem and Emperor, I have grown tired of the whole "scene" now. I enjoyed your review, but I am done with this genre for good.
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August 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 am
I received an email from the band asking me to post the following as a comment:
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Concerning our band name: "THORNGOTH" comes from the "Eldar" language of J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a neologism of this language, that was created by our vocalist Akhorahil. It can be translated with "the horned enemy".
I know that our band name gives the impression, that we've just combined the words "thorn" and "goth", but we've never claimed that it's an english-based name
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I answered the following:
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On the band name front it's interesting that it's from the Tolkien language, but you have to realize that 99% of people who hear of you will never find that out. Mine was an honest reaction as one of those people. My own band is called Derelict, and I have now endured five years of people asking me if this name came from the movie Zoolander and saying "dereli-qued my balls". It's just something we in metal bands with our serious names sometimes face.
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August 28th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Gotta tell you, I was sick of black metal for a looooong time. Found this review, gave a few songs a listen, and hope is restored. Definitely a solid, moody, grinding album. Convincing review, and a good band. More albums to come, hopefully. Reminds me of Equilibrium, minus the Pirates-of-the-Carribean-keyboards.
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