Thranenkind is a German based Post-Black Metal band formed in 2007. Self-released in 2008 their debut demo
Eine Momentaufnahme - Der Rest ist nur Einsamkeit is a great collection of Post-Rock influenced Black Metal, a genre that has been gaining many new recruits in more recent years. With this demo, Thranenkind proves that even though they are a new band on the scene, it will only be matter of time before they claim it is their own.
The sound of Thranenkind is that of most Post-Black Metal bands, droning, repetitive guitar lines interspersed with short interludes of atmospheric clean strummed guitar. While the band does nothing new in terms of style, the two members of the group Nathaneal (guitars/bass/vocals) and Pesten (drums) obviously have great skills in terms of song-writing, with
Eine Momentaufnahme - Der Rest ist nur Einsamkeit clearly being a highlight album in the burgeoning Post-Rock influenced sect of Black Metal. Another great aspect of the album is the contrast between songs with a depressive atmosphere and songs with a joyous atmosphere, giving the album great variety. Songs like
Im schwarzen Kämmerlein and
Ein Hauch von Zweisamkeit are prime examples of songs delving in more depressive territory. The prior song
Im schwarzen Kämmerlein rages with seething, melodic tremolo picked guitars, while the drumming faithfully follows using a simple, steady mid-tempo beat. Thranenkind makes it quite obvious they have a thorough understand of creating atmosphere with this track, using key note choices to make this song emote a tranquil yet disheartening tone.
Contrasting song
Eine Momentaufnahme treads a different path however, using uplifting melodies instead of tormented ones. Opening with finger picked acoustic guitar, the riff then is replicated by an electric guitar. The harmony influence in this song could definitely be traced back to a more mainstream genre, such as Alternative or Indie, but the delivery is most certainly Black Metal derived. What's more surprisingly than the outside influence, is the fact that the riff works perfectly, not at all sounding out of place on a Black Metal record. Last song the epic
Die Euphorie des Augenblicks is an excellent combination of both moods, successfully combining to polar opposite tones. The first half contains the troubled aspect, through slow, powerful acoustic guitar lines and a plethora of nature filled samples and somber spoken word passages. The second half picks it up however, especially with the inclusion of an unknown female vocalist. Her vocals (combined with the raspy, Black Metal drawl of Nathaneal) brings the music into the light, with a faster tempo and once again Alternative/Indie guitar melodies.
It will most likely not be long before Thranenkind starts to truly make a name for themselves in the Black Metal genre. Although it will be hard, hopefully the band will build on the enormous potential they have shown with
Eine Momentaufnahme - Der Rest ist nur Einsamkeit and further their sound to new heights that remained unexplored by the other bands of the genre. One can only be doing themselves a favor by this acquiring this excellent demo and start following the progress of Black Metal's soon to be most prolific band.
