Hail, you mist-veiled wanderers of the Black Metal Archives—Sean here, still haunted by the windswept echoes of Brzask’s Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge. Caught a preview via a Vendetta Records promo, set for release May 2, 2025, and its seven tracks—snippets teasing a raw, majestic sprawl—have me hooked like a lone hiker on a Polish peak. Let’s tread this rugged path and unravel it!
Brzask emerged from Poland’s shadowed heart, a four-piece force—J. (vocals, bass), F. (guitar), Dante (guitar), and Pepesza (drums). Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge is their debut full-length, a Vendetta Records-backed journey through nature’s solitude and mythic lore, rooted in the Giant Mountains’ mystique.
Let’s dive into these incredible tracks!
“Intro” hums like dawn breaking over frost—soft keys and acoustic strums, J.’s bass a quiet pulse that draws me in. “Frozen Horizon” erupts next, F. and Dante’s guitars weaving icy tremolo riffs, Pepesza’s drums a steady gallop—J.’s vocals snarl with a yearning edge, and I’m nodding, swept into a blizzard’s embrace.
“Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge” carries the title’s weight—guitars soar like crags against the sky, the snippet hinting at a melodic crest that feels both vast and intimate.
“Ravens of Łomnica” bites harder, riffs slashing with a blackened snarl, J.’s voice a raven’s cry—my pulse quickens, caught in its wild flight.
“The Herbalist” blends folkish tones with a mournful riff, like a healer’s chant in a dark wood.
“Spring of the Sacred Elbe” flows gentler, guitars rippling like knives through flesh.
“A Tale of Sand and Fire” closes with a fiery spark—drums pound, guitars blaze, hinting at a saga’s end that leaves me craving the full tale. Brzask’s sound is a mountain’s soul—F. and Dante’s guitars merge Dark Throne’s cold drift with Alcest’s dreamy lift, J.’s bass and vocals grounding it in raw emotion, Pepesza’s kit a heartbeat through the wild. It’s polished yet vivid—feels like they channeled this atop a Riesengebirge ridge, fueled by frost and folklore.
In black metal’s vast range, this sits with Wolves in the Throne Room’s naturalistic hymns and Saor’s Celtic sweep, but Brzask’s Polish roots and Giant Mountains muse make it their own. Der Wanderer im Riesengebirge is a trek worth taking—crank the previews, let them guide you, and join me in awaiting its full ascent.
You ridge-bound shades, share your thoughts below—how do these snippets stir your spirit? Pre-order on Bandcamp and prepare for the climb!
Stay wild, you mountain-hewn wraiths, and keep the journey alive!
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5
RATING SYSTEM:
- 0 – 1: Fucking shit
- 1 – 2: Shit
- 2 – 3: Not Bad Shit
- 3 – 4: Pretty Good Shit
- 4 – 5: Amazing Fucking Shit
- 5: The Best Shit You Will Ever Hear
