The German band Galgenfrist suddenly came knocking at our door with their debut demo Nebelfestung. It quickly caught the attention of Sturmglanz BM Manufaktur, who are now releasing it on tape and CD.
Galgenfrist hails from the mist-drenched forests of Nordrhein-Westfalen, a vast region in Germany stretching from the Dutch border to Bielefeld. A land of myths and legends, and one that Grauen—whom we already know from Todessog and Mordberg—channels into this debut. Whether the band’s name is inspired by the Nortt album, I’m not sure, but it certainly seems that way.
In terms of production, things are still a bit loose and rudimentary. The blast beats occasionally rush ahead of the rest, the playing isn’t always tight, and it doesn’t always form a cohesive whole. Sonically, this is a true demo—it has a distinctly ’90s sound, which, of course, only adds to the charm.
It’s raw, grimy, noisy, and shrill—exactly how a Raw Black Metal record should be. At times, it leans towards monotony, but it has atmosphere, an atmosphere that takes you straight back to the 1990s.
With five tracks and a runtime just under 25 minutes, this could also be considered an EP by modern standards. Grauen’s ominous voice doesn’t leave you cold; with a rasping darkness, he tells tales of fortresses in the mist, hellhounds, misery, black sentinels, and cold, abandoned ruins—stories that transport you to long-forgotten episodes of German history.
Nebelfestung is undoubtedly a rough release, but one that holds a lot of potential. A better mix could have made it more convincing, yet it’s precisely that raw mix that gives it the nostalgic feel of the early second wave, making it all the more special.
75/100
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