ITP V.011 REVIEW: WEDARD: EISKRIEG II

BAND:WEDARD (GERMANY) GENRE: BLACK METAL LABEL: EWIGES EIS RECORDS RELEASE DATE: 2/15/2011

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): BEYOND THE LIGHT(Split EP-2009- Wotanstahl Klangschmiede), ZISCHEN LEERE UND NICHTS (Split EP-, Sun and Moon Records-2009),
WO DIE EWIGKEIT DIE ZEIT BERUHRT (Ewiges Eis Records- 2008), ANCESTRAL/WEDARD (SPLIT-
N. M. B. Rec./Nokt. Trans. Rec- 2008), EISKREIG-( EP- Sabbathid Records-2007),WEDARD/SYMBIOSIS (SPLIT FULL LENGTH- Occultum Productions-2006), EINSAMER WINTERWEG (Full-length, Made with Hate Records-2006), WEDARD/BLACKSTREAM (SPLIT- Visions of Nightscapes-2006), EIN LEBEN IN DER EWIGKEIT-(Deathbringer Records-2006). DEMOS: EIN LEBEN IN DER EWIGKEIT-(2006), VALKYREN FROST (2006), VON LIEBE UND WALDERN (2005),AM ANFANG WAR ES LICHT (2003).







BEST RELEASE(S): EISKRIEG II(2011), EINSAMER WINTERWEG (2006), WO DIE EWIGKEIT DIE ZEIT BERUHRT (2008),


WEDARD: EISKRIEG II: TRACKLISTING:
01. Solitude (Intro) - 05:03
02. Eiskrieg II - 08:43
03. Winterdepression II - 07:37
04. Towards the Lonely Path of Winter - 07:29
05. Diminished (feat. Midnight Odyssey) - 07:43
06. Hidden Bonus Track - 06:42


ITP RATING: *** 1/2
PRODUCTION: ***
SONGWRITING: *** 1/2
PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

WEDARD are a German DSBM (Depressive, Suicidal, Black Metal) duo founded in 2002 by Sternenfrost (vocalist-all instruments) as during 2005 "Necro" was added as the projects drummer and recently Karmaggedon has taken over WEDARD's drumming duties. Vocalist "Midnight Odyssey" (Dis Pater) guests on "EISKRIEG II" as he will also record with the project in the future.


WEDARD serve up melancholic black metal in vein of later BURZUM as the band, a passive and necro style of black metal conjuring images of cold, lonely, frosty walks in the forest trudging through snow up to your knees.

WEDARD offer up a new EP entitled "EISKRIEG II" perhaps a musical progression from the bands 2007 EP.

WEDARDs "EISKRIEG II" opens with the into track "Solitude (Intro)" with it's ambient,
Synth, spoken word and slow, rock drum beat, very beautiful and melancholy as the song ends with Gregorian chants, all though not well synced with the keyboards.

WEDARD kicks in with the title track "Eiskrieg II", the longest track of the release clocking in at 8:43, an extension of 2007's "Eiskrieg I". "Eiskrieg II" plucks in dissonant notes, with a wind howling in it's background segueing into some quality, melancholic black metal. Sternenfrost vocals employ a little too much reverb, although interesting in its effect, the song is mesmerizing and disturbing, you can hear Sternenfrost screaming in psychic agony in the background. "Eiskrieg II" takes a dark turn at 2:58, similar to where it started, and picks up a mid pace, with melodic clean vocal dynamic "aaah".

Good song concept, I just wish the rhythm section was tighter.

WEDARDs "Winterdepression II" kicks off with a spoken word about Seasonal Affective Disorder and Depression (we've all been there) as the band segues into some awesome atmospheric, melancholic black metal. A prominent, and repetitive melody flows like melting snow water through out the song, very intimate, and yes you could hear the snow melting and the waters flowing as the song ends with the strumming of a guitar.

WEDARDs "Towards the Lonely Path of Winter", evokes slow, guitar plucking and blasts off into some again, good quality, necro black metal. A light, keyboard melody evokes a melancholic feel as tortured screams evoke darkness in beauty. "Towards the Lonely Path of Winter" takes a slower turn for a strummed guitar excursion with a wonderous melody in the background, and the band picks up again. With dark spoken words and screams, "Towards the Lonely Path of Winter" proves that even within a beautiful land and soundscape, there will always be darkness as the song drifts into melancholy.

WEDARD's "Diminished (feat. Midnight Odyssey)" kicks off tight, with conviction as a provocative melody floats through the song."Diminished" features clean, atmospheric vocals via Dis Pater evoking a goth/alternative influence for a beautiful journey of gorgeous melodic, melancholy genius. At 5:58 "Diminished" evokes an exellent alternative groove guitar riff, very prominent, good track.

WEDARDs EISKRIEG II closes with a hidden bonus track (from earlier recordings).

WEDARD have come along way, as previous criticism cited the bands as not cohesive within songwriting compositions as the project has improved while keeping the desolate atmosphere, adding clean vocals and alternative/prog rock influences.

WEDARDs "EISKRIEG II" is the projects most mature and cohesive effort to date, exploring psychic torment, the beauty of nature and desolate soundscapes. WEDARD while gloomy are an intimate listen within the subtle art of evoking atmospheres.

WEDARD reminds us in our psychic torment that in this darkness there is beauty in nature as we walk alone on the desolate snowy path of our self destruction.

ITP RATING: *** 1/2
PRODUCTION: ***
SONGWRITING: *** 1/2
PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-