Welcome my fellow black metalheads, Sean here at the Black Metal Archives, and today we’re descending into the frostbitten depths of Germany’s Äera with their latest release, Phantast. Dropped in October 2024 via Vendetta Records, this sophomore full-length from the North Rhine-Westphalia quartet—Milan Sikorski (vocals, bass, acoustic guitars), Simon Wiedenhöft (guitars, samples), Sven Strefel (guitars), and Farin Hahn (drums)—is a raw, dynamic beast that builds on their 2019 debut Schein. Inspired by Christian Morgenstern’s “In Phantas Schloss,” Phantast offers four tracks across 41 minutes, warping reality into a blackened dreamscape that’s equal parts savage and introspective. Let’s dive in!
The album opens with “Kosmos,” a beast of a track that wastes no time establishing Äera’s intent. Wiedenhöft and Strefel’s dual guitar assault unleashes jagged, tremolo-picked riffs that slice through the mix, their interplay evoking the frostbitten spirit of early Norwegian acts like Darkthrone, albeit with a warmer, more melodic edge. Sikorski’s vocals enter as a snarling force—high-pitched and drenched in anguish, they hover between classic black metal shrieks and a more emotive rasp, carrying a visceral weight. Hahn’s drumming propels the track with relentless blast beats before shifting into mid-tempo grooves, giving the song a hypnotic ebb and flow. The bass, often a muted presence in the genre, stands out here with a thick, earthy rumble—true to the band’s name, derived from an old German word for “earth.” It’s a strong opener that sets the stage for the journey ahead.
“Empor” follows and it’s here that Äera’s atmospheric leanings fully unfurl. The track begins with a mournful clean guitar passage, a delicate reprieve that soon gives way to a storm of distortion. The guitars weave intricate, expansive melodies—less dissonant than their peers, more akin to the emotive swells of Agalloch or Wolves in the Throne Room. Sikorski’s basslines pulse with a subtle groove, locking in with Hahn’s creative drumming, which dances between blast beats and progressive flourishes. There’s a rawness to the production—recorded at Klangschmiede Studio E by Markus Stock—that eschews polish for grit, letting each instrument breathe. The song’s unpredictable shifts, from raging crescendos to haunting quietude, showcase Äera’s knack for balancing brutality and beauty, though it occasionally risks losing focus in its sprawl.
The centerpiece, “Schattenkreuz,” stretches to nearly 15 minutes, and it’s a monolith of ambition. It opens with an acoustic intro—Sikorski’s gentle strumming layered with Wiedenhöft’s samples—before exploding into a torrent of heavy bass and crushing riffs. The track surges with a blackened intensity, Hahn’s rolling snares and double kicks driving a relentless pace, while the guitars build into towering walls of sound. At the eight-minute mark, it pulls back into a reflective interlude, letting the atmosphere simmer before roaring back with a final blitzkrieg. It’s a sprawling, immersive piece that rewards patience, though its length might test those seeking tighter compositions. The lyrical depth, rooted in existential and naturalistic themes, adds a cerebral layer to the sonic onslaught.
Closing with “Fleisch und Knochen”, Äera distill their sound into its most compact and bleak form. This track is a furious onslaught from the start—Wiedenhöft and Strefel’s guitars churn out robust, intricate riffs, while Sikorski’s vocals reach their most desperate pitch. The mid-tempo drumming and atmospheric interludes nod to post-black metal influences, but the song’s core remains firmly rooted in the genre’s second-wave traditions. It’s intense yet refined, with a progressive edge that hints at Äera’s potential to evolve further. The production retains its gritty charm, emphasizing the band’s rawer approach compared to the slicker sheen of contemporaries like Firtan or Groza.
Within the black metal genre, Äera occupy a space that bridges the raw aggression of the ‘90s with the expansive, emotional breadth of modern atmospheric and post-black metal. They’re not as experimental as a band like Alcest, nor as unrelentingly grim as Mayhem, but Phantast carves out a niche with its earthy heft and dynamic songwriting. The incorporation of acoustic elements and samples nods to ambient black metal pioneers like Summoning, while the lyrical focus on nature, detachment, and cosmic wonder aligns with the romanticism of the Cascadian scene. Yet, there’s a distinctly German flavor here—reminiscent of bands like Toadeater or Rimruna—that grounds their sound in a rugged, primal fury.
If Phantast falters, it’s in its occasional indulgence—“Schattenkreuz” could trim a few minutes without losing impact, and the raw production, while intentional, might alienate listeners craving sharper clarity. Still, these are minor gripes. Äera have crafted an album that’s both a love letter to black metal’s roots and a bold step into their own territory. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s damn good—emotional, dynamic, and charged with a passion that bleeds through every note. For those who revel in the genre’s ability to evoke both dread and awe, Phantast is a worthy descent into the void.
Until next time, keep venturing on, into the void!
