Noisy, despondent, and beyond fucking bleak. Do I have your attention yet? In unsere Augen ist viel eingegangen (translated roughly to in our eyes so much has happened) from Berlin based project Von jeglichen Wort is an abysmal journey in the depths of despair that has an impact like a freight train. Combining riff work seen in more modern post-black metal projects with rawness from the previous era and a pinch of atmospheric soundscapes for good measure, it separates itself from a majority of other contemporaries. VJW is the sole instrumentalist here and a true visionary. While his entire discography could be considered poetry without words there is no place this is more evident than in Unsere Augen in viel eingegangen.
The opening track of the same name is hard driving giving the listener no reprieve in its first few minutes instead more focused on building unyielding tension. It slowly eases its way into brief moments of reflection that somewhat do not deviate from the same oppressive which using mainly synths as a conduit is impressive. Eventually, when guitars overtake the instrumentals again things feel darker, more distorted. It steadily builds to a somber end that is ambient yet, depressive. It conveys in its 9-minute run what most strive for in full album lengths and does so successfully.
Man weiss nicht was ist da gesagt layered texture begins similarly so but, this time with a tone that is reverent and mimics a Georgian chant in the background. It then fades into something that would be more akin to harsh industrial but, builds upon its already established roots. A hollowness without being empty, a living contradiction. In end the guitars do return, now being the main focus, and fade again. A cycle completed once again.
Ich erinnere mich nicht dass, die Machthaber mit ihren glänzenden Stiefeln sich ums uns gekümmerten is the shortest track on this record and the closest to what the traditionalists will relate to. This sticks close to the aggression of black metal, hard, driving, and fast. Our pause here comes at the end where things begin to get ethereal. The sound work here wouldn’t be out of place in an obscure film, something that for me is massively enjoyable.
We finally close out with the ominous aus der treuen Vergegenwärtigung kann und soll die Kraft freikommen which starts with a penetrating drone. In comparison with how the other tracks have begun it marks a sharp tonal shift to our conclusion. The piano enters with what initially feels like a melancholic melody before once again returning to menace. A bitter ending to what was an incredible misanthropic tale.
This album brought me to tears with the use of words. It is not meant for everyone and that is the point. For those who can resonate with the manta of “defiant meaninglessness, delusional heroism, bleak sobering, hopeful fatigue, rebellious bliss” this will be a work of art that defiles your very being. Please go and support this project on Bandcamp and give their other works a listen. Until then, I’ll be ruminating here and hails or something.
