Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Rauhnacht - Urzeitgeist [Hammerheart Records - 2014]

Rauhnact (well Stefan Traunmüller to be exact as it is his one man band) returns with Urzeitgeist, their second full length.  Traunmüller is no stranger to black metal as he is also a member of Wallachia and Golden Dawn.  Rauhnacht, for the uninitiated, titles their music as Alpine black metal; which is a combination of early Norwegian Black Metal and the alpine philosophy, traditions and folklore.  All lyrics are in German (Google translator was stumped by most of them).

We’ll focus on the eight songs here (seven if you have the digipak version, eight if you purchased the digital or vinyl), starting with “Einsan Ist’s, Durch’s Moor Zu Geh’n” , a symphonic tornado of raspy vocals, numerous time changes and plentiful riffs.  Clean vocals come about half way through and make a nice segue before the next assault.  The only down side here are the keyboards, which come across a bit heavy handed, they almost sound as an afterthought rather than being an integral part of the composition.  “Urzeitgeist” is really the beginning here, as this song (and the six songs that follow it) truly unites music with Traunmüllers ability to create a fantastical atmosphere of snowy landscapes, strange creatures and wild tales. 

From here on until the end it is an abundance of catchy melodies (folk tinged and heavy), stirring vocals (both clean and guttural) and ferocious time changes.  “Rauhnachtsking” begins with an epic drums and strumming guitars, heavy and melancholy at the same time.  Guitar arpeggio’s and what sounds like an accordion mix lyrically.  “Der Weg Zuruck”, “Geisterreiter” and “Ewigkeit” follow suit with powerful sounds of hornet’s nest guitars and tumultuous drumming.  “Zeitentor” commences with echoing swirling sound that dives into an eerie, slow paced funeral dirge.  Chanting vocals conjure up images of icy mountains, fierce cold and sinister atmospheres.  The last song (bonus) is Glemselens elv, a Burzum cover, done quite well and it fits in perfectly with the other songs.

Art work too fits well with the concept.  A craggy cave with a pair of sinister eyes aglow against a snow capped background.  Artwork, music and concept are all tied neatly together.  A striking follow up to Rauhnacht’s debut Vorweltschweigen, Urzeitgeist takes black metal fused with folk influences and comes out victorious.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Viktorya Kaufholz
Latest Reviews

Rauhnacht - Urzeitgeist
Rauhnact (well Stefan Traunmüller to be exact as it is his one man band) returns with Urzeitgeist, their second full length.  Traunmüller is no strang...
060725   RDKPL - Herr Pes Trinch
050725   Stinking Lizaveta - Hopeless...
030725   Yann Novak - Continuity
030725   Tourist Trap - Tourist Trap( ...
030725   Palindromes - Palindromes( Bl...
020725   Noise Trail Immersion - Tutt...
010725   Atomic Rooster - Atomic Roos...
010725   Con Funk Shun - Organized
010725   Various Artists - Heatwave- T...
010725   The Good, The Bad, The Weird ...
Latest Articles

Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sharp t...
It’s fair to say the Sharksploitation genre is often tried, tested, and to be honest, tired. Fear Below is a 2025 Australian film that tries to do some...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
090525   Ennaytch - Of walls, abused ...
150425   Dead, Dead Swans interview - ...
110325   Sebastian Tomb - Walls of unb...
040225   Alien Sex Fiend - Possessed B...
231224   Best Of 2024 - Music, Sound &...
191224   Splintered - Somewhere Betwee...
031224   Shane Ryan-Reid - Coerced and...
221024   Whore’s Breath - life’s h...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom