Gedanken Toten Lebens (literally “Thoughts Kill Lives”) is, at its core, a German one‑woman project founded and driven by vocalist Solveig. While she remains the creative linchpin, the musical dimension is bolstered by a rotating cast of guest musicians. Exactly who they are remains shrouded in mystery: Metal Archives lists only one name—Freigeist (ex‑Aigilas)—and then only in connection with the previous album. Given that no further credits appear for the new release, it’s reasonable to assume he once again lent his talents to these recordings.
What is clear, however, is that Solveig knows precisely what she aims to convey with Gedanken Toten Lebens. Though her debut appeared a full decade ago, her vocal assault has lost none of its power or venom. Quite the opposite: her voice still strikes like a direct onslaught on the senses—raw, slicing, and charged with inner fury. Comparisons to Onielarof Nocturnal Slaughtercult come naturally, not only in terms of style and intensity, but also in the uncompromising dedication to a blackened, purist aesthetic.
Musically, the project navigates between classically inspired, merciless black‑metal riffing, sprawling atmospheric interludes, and eruptions of sheer brutality. While firmly rooted in the second wave of black metal, it bears its own singular character, resisting easy reduction to mere imitation. An introspective undercurrent imbues the music with emotional depth, even as it maintains its raw, nihilistic core.
Beyond its traditional black‑metal foundation, Gedanken Toten Lebens also incorporates a striking progressive edge. Complex song structures, unexpected transitions, and abrupt tempo shifts keep the listener perpetually off‑balance—just when a riff seems to settle, the rhythm twists or an ethereal passage fractures the fabric of the song.
At times a hint of post‑black metal seeps through the cracks: subtle, melancholic layers that carve out moments of space between the onslaughts, without ever diluting the music’s biting essence. These contrasting elements create a tension that gives the album its dynamic range and depth, turning it into not a straightforward genre exercise but a captivating journey where tradition, experimentation, and emotion converge in often surprising harmony.
Solveig masterfully weaves these disparate influences together without sacrificing the ferocity and intensity at the heart of her vision. The result is a sound that is at once an homage and a challenge—an endeavor that remains true to its roots while fearlessly evolving and reshaping itself.
80/100
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