Review ENDSTILLE ‘DetoNation’

‘DetoNation’ is the newest strike from German black metal punks Endstille. The release is the first studio album in ten years and a certain curiosity of what to expect from the newest offer can’t be denied.

After having listened the to the album I can conclude that the self-chosen break and the re-grouping certainly did good for band and music. ‘DetoNation’ is a brutal album. Regardless if the band created a high-speed blast like ‘Pro Patria Mori’ and the unstoppable destruction of a song called ‘Jericho Howls’ or if we face some more moderate paced tracks, Endstille define their version of extreme metal.

The hellish opener ‘New World Lethargy’ sets the tone for the album. With an anarchic vibe and a very repetitive rhythm, the song creates its own destructive mood. It’s the hypnotic aggressiveness that creates a feeling of discomfort and fascinates at the same time.

Endstille perform relentless metal that doesn’t necessarily relate only to blastbeats. The moderate paced ‘Tochnit Aleph’ is equipped with the same intensity and the same goes for ‘Vigilante Justice’. Endstille fabricate an ominous atmosphere that especially unfolds during the longer tracks. Hereby boredom never rules. Although having the constant beat in place each of the songs has enough twists to create excitement and a sinister curiosity of how songs further evolve.

‘Victorious’ my personal favorite on the album. The track is again kept in a slower pace. Frontman Zingultus hoarse vocals are intense, and a wall of guitars do their job. A baleful atmosphere fuse with the sonic brutality that doesn’t care at all about filigree details. It is the sheer aggressiveness being the focus and Endstille manage to transport this intention in perfection.

The little epos comes at the end. ‘Endstille (Weltkrieg)’ is another chapter to the series of ‚Endstille’-songs that are supposed to end their albums. In nearly eight minutes, the four-piece band set the dystopian atmosphere of war to music. Instead of the husky screams only, the song builds on spoken words. This sounds like an obscure voice that creates a hypnotic rush and gives ‘Endstille (Weltkrieg)’ its evil musical face.

Endstille don’t care about trends, nor they follow expectations. The only driving force for these guys is their musical vision and using the band us an outlet for some inner demons. At least this is impression you get while going on this devastating trip through the fields of musical extremes.