I’m still checking out the catalogue of the Austrian label Running Wild Productions. Today, I’m going to talk about one of their recent albums, Der Jagasprung by the one-man band Winterwald, released a few weeks ago in digital format and as a limited-edition cassette. It’s worth noting that this project, which explores themes related to nature and local landscapes, has been active since 2023 and released its debut album, Die kalte Pein, in the same year.
Der Jagasprung is a 9-track album featuring strident and ambient black metal, with the spirit of nature throughout. The structure of the tracks is constructed around aggressive, raw sections, while others are more subdued, featuring field recordings, particularly in the instrumental tracks such as Zwischenspü. Acoustic instruments accompany these field recordings, as on the instrumental track Das salige Fräulein, all wrapped in layers of keyboards. The atmosphere is bleak and oppressive, an effect reinforced by lamentations, as on the track Sebastian Inwendig
The guitar sound is shrill and sharp, reminiscent of the early days of black metal. This tone is most apparent on tracks such as Das Trauerkrüglein and Der Jagasprung. On the latter track, the heaviness of the guitars creates a hostile, dark atmosphere. The drums deliver a relentless pounding rhythm, heightening the intensity of the cold soundscape.
The vocals are high-pitched and strident, drawing direct inspiration from old-school black metal. There are whispers in certain passages, such as on the track Die Klagestimmen. But in my opinion, the most memorable vocal performance is on Das Trauerkrüglein. On this track, the vocals are muffled and tormented. I also find the production organic and very much in keeping with the spirit of the genre.
Among the tracks I particularly enjoyed listening to were Die Klagestimmen, with its sharp, raw guitar playing and subtle nuances. There’s also Der Jagasprung for its tribal feel, which exudes a terrifying aura through its epic atmosphere. My favourite track is Das Trauerkrüglein; it’s the track where the oppressive atmosphere reaches its peak. A track steeped in a heavy atmosphere.
Der Jagasprung is an album that blends black metal with ambient music. It combines raw, aggressive passages with cold, ambient sections. At first, I expected to hear a more melodic, even epic style, with harmonised guitars, but to my surprise, the album is quite different from what one might expect from a band labelled ‘Atmospheric Black Metal’ on Metal Archives. This has piqued my curiosity and made me want to give its debut album a listen.
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