Review Summary: Essential listening for fans of neo-folk, folk-metal, black metal, and ambient.
Der Wanderer Über Dem Nebelmeer; The Wanderer Above a Sea of Fog. This iconic painting, by Caspar David Friedrich, encapsulates the spirit of the noble wanderer, introvert and naturalist. It evokes feelings of profound individualism, triumph over tribulations, and a firm adherence to principles. It least, for me it evokes such things, and therein lies the genius of this painting; the subject is broad enough to allow for many interpretations, and yet it is narrow enough that a common vibe is shared between those who appreciate it. That vibe, that unshakeable, majestic feeling, is the focus of this various-artists compilation, aptly titled, “Der Wanderer Über Dem Nebelmeer”, with the aforementioned painting as its cover artwork. Each and every song on this compilation is an original piece commissioned exclusively for the album. Some of these songs are folk, some are black metal, and some are ambient, but despite their stylistic differences, they all embody the spirit of the wanderer, wherever he/she may be.
Folk is superb at expressing the themes of isolation, love, loss, and reverence for nature, so it’s no surprise that over half of the songs on Der Wanderer Über Dem Nebelmeer are folk. Of these tracks, some have a soft and relaxing feel, while the others are considerably more upbeat and experimental. The softer folk tracks on this album have a rich, European neo-folk sound. Acoustic guitar counterpoint, tasteful cello and violin string accompaniments, and ethereal male and female voices are the prevailing features of these songs. All are wonderful, but Kauan’s, “Vmesto Slez” is my favorite. I do not understand Russian, so the direct meaning of the lyrics is lost on me, but what is not lost on me is the incredible romance and power with which those lyrics are sung. The accompanying music on “Vmesto Slez” is also nothing short of perfect, with rich acoustic guitars, subtle atmospherics, a subdued drumbeat and a gorgeous violin outro.
Relaxing folk tracks on this album; October Falls-Usva, Musk Ox-The Face Of Patience, Oskorien-Ode to Arinbjorn, Nachtreich-In Gedanken, Nebelung-Graue Nacht, Quellenthal-Winterreise, Carved In Stone-Night.
The other folk tracks on this album are of a more upbeat, experimental and heavy style. On these tracks, deft acoustic counterpoint is often traded in favor of swift acoustic strumming, and modern electric instruments accompany the acoustic ones. “Winterstrife”, by Nechochwen is one of the best in this category. It begins with delicate acoustic strumming that gradually builds up to a galloping cadence. An angelic John Haughm-esque voice emerges, with lyrics that express the pains of a long and heavy winter. After two verses, the acoustic guitars go softer, like a funeral dirge to the accompanying sound of a starving infant’s piercing cries. Winterstrife then thunders to a climax, with crashing drums and an emotional guitar solo that evokes Drudkh’s “Blood In Our Wells”. “The Reaper and the Seed”, by Vindensång is also fantastic. It features a driving drumbeat, a fiddle, and simple acoustic guitar strumming, which all drive home the rough, masculine pathos of the vocals. “When will we reap what we have sown?” he croons, in a voice reminiscent of Steve Von Till (of Neurosis fame). This is excellent dark folk, but with a uniquely American feel.
Upbeat folk tracks on this album; Nechochwen-Winterstrife, Thayer Cabin-The Painting Moves, Vindensång -The Reaper and the Seed, Stroszek-Land des Schweigens, Fen-The Wind Whispers of Loss.
Ambient music is effective at expressing emotions through atmosphere, and at painting landscapes with layers of abstract sound. These characteristics are well suited to the themes of this album, so it’s fitting that this compilation include a few excellent ambient tracks. The best of these is “Nebelmeer”, a collaboration between the legendary Agalloch and the more obscure experimental artist Mathias Grassow. "Nebelmeer" (meaning, fog) opens with the sound of a ship’s horn sounding in the distance. Waves crash, winds blow, and the sound of the horn repeats again, and again. An industrial humming sound occasionally breaks the serenity, perhaps to convey the encroachment of human technology in nature. Unintelligible choral voices creep into the track, and a church organ subtly replaces the sound of the ship’s horn. This track is astonishing in that the sum of these strange sounds actually paints a vivid landscape in the mind of the listener. "Nebelmeer" is no assortment of odd sounds jumbled together into so-called ambience; it is actually truly focused, and remarkable. There are a few other ambient tracks worth mentioning; Pilgrimage, which features a frantic acoustic guitar section that flows and feels like an animal under chase, and Ej Hit Kommen, a fascinating symphony of overdriven, reverberating guitars.
Ambient tracks on this album; Spectral Lore-Pilgrimage, A Death Cinematic-In the Tumbling Dawn Light, Underjordiska-Ej Hit Kommen, Shwarze Heimat-Verlorener Glanz, Agalloch and Mathias Grassow-Nebelmeer.
Naturally, the most intense tracks on Der Wanderer Über Dem Nebelmeer are the ones from the black metal genre. Black metal traditionally deals with themes of paganism, individualism, and freedom, so it’s fitting that many black metal artists were selected for this compilation. The artists on this record play a style of black metal that is epic, romantic, and steeped in a deep folk tradition. Their songs are characterized by blast beats, hypnotically repetitive riffs and soul bearing screams; often interspersed with acoustic guitar interludes and clean, choral vocals. My two favorite black metal tracks on this album are "Valo", by Kehra, and "Earthen Throne", by Gallowbraid. "Valo" is a heroic song that alternates seamlessly between sections of breathtaking rage and soft acoustic tenderness. It is commanded by vocals of exceptional power and emotional sincerity. "Earthen Throne" is likewise, a majestic song, a mixture of blast-beats and tremolo picked guitars merged with piano and atmospherics. This unique instrumentation provides a rich background for the dynamic vocals, which shift between harsh rasps and glorious, harmonized choruses.
Black metal tracks on this album; Velnias-Sovereign Nocturnal, Kehra-Valo, Enmerkar-Of Mist and Memories, Aldresjal, Through Fire the Serpent Uncoils, Wandar-Waldanger, Damerdarben-Oktoberstrum, Gallowraid-Earthen Throne.
Der Wanderer Über Dem Nebelmeer is quite simply the best compilation album that I have ever heard. The sheer artistic scope of its twenty-five songs is staggering, given that all of the songs stand as unique and beautiful pieces of art. It is clear that every artist put their best foot forward when writing a song for this compilation, which makes it a joy to listen to, despite its massive length (close to three hours). What is also remarkable is that the album manages to retain a sense of focus and flow, despite the vast stylistic differences between each track. Indeed, Der Wanderer Über Dem Nebelmeer never strays from the profound emotions evoked by the painting that it was titled after, and for that, it is a fantastic, coherent effort that all fans of folk, or metal, should check out immediately.
Recommended Tracks
Usva
The Face of Patience
Winterstrife
Neblemeer
Vmesto Slez
Valo
Earthen Throne
The Reaper and the Seed
