Dornenreich is one of the better bands emanating
from the Austrian black metal scene, which has also
produced groups such as
Summoning
and
Abigor,
the latter of whom is sometimes compared to this band.
Until recently the core of the band has been two
guys both with the last name Stock (though not related),
though Thomas Stock recently left the band, leaving
Jochen behind to carry on.
Reviewed here are two albums, their third
(2001's Her Von Welken Nachten) and
fifth (Durch Den Traum, released in 2006).
Of these, Welken is clearly the more traditional,
as well as the more upbeat, more aligned with
the classic black metal of bands like Abigor.
On the other hand,
Durch Den Traum is best described as a sort of
laidback, relaxed post-black album, not so much
in an ambient sense (though there is a bit of that),
but rather that the songs sort of meander along,
with both traditional black and acoustic guitars
strumming repetitively, and vocals ranging from some
old-style shrieks to more distant chants and whispers.
It's clearly a bit different from the norm in black metal,
yet it retains just enough of the older elements to fit
as a logical progression from a band who increasingly
is finding its own path.
