Review PØLTERGEIST “Nachtmusik”

Pøltergeist, this band name doesn’t sound familiar to me. I’ve never heard of this band before and when I received the album I was expecting one of those ambitious young metalcore bands, but I was completely wrong.

The trio hail from Vancouver, Canada and “Nachtmusik” is the title of their new album. The German-titled record features an intro called “Einfuhrung” (which means “Introduction” in German) and “Dammerung” (which means “Dawn”), the latter being the outro of an album that will deliver some dark music to the listener.

Instead of being a young and wild metalcore band, Pøltergeist offer music that is rooted in the 80s. Dark wave and post punk combined with a touch of rock and metal is what this debut album brings to the table. In a way the band reminds us of Unto Others, who follow a similar passion.

Each of these songs is wrapped in grey and at the same time reveals an infectious melody. “Children Of The Time”, which reminds me of the dark wave days, is such a song. Melancholy and a dark atmosphere are the key elements of this track, which also features a great guitar solo. The latter echoes the rock vibes of a song that immediately blossoms into black.

The dynamic and exciting opener ‘Burning Sword’ blends rock and wave. For people who grew up listening to 80s music, this album is like a walk down memory lane. Sisters Of Mercy, Blue Öyster Cult and Tribulation, for the younger ones, have certainly inspired Pøltergeist.

“Cold in September” is a cool musical breeze from Canada’s west coast, while the atmospheric title track has a dystopian vibe reminiscent of Carpenter movie soundtracks.

With ‘Walking Alone’ the album slowly reaches its finale before the previously mentioned ‘Dammerung’ marks the final chapter. “Walking Alone” is another post-punk driven song that speaks to the listener’s blackened soul.

“Nachtmusik” is an interesting album and, considering the success of Unto Others, we could be witnessing the beginning of a new wave of dark rock that may not focus on the happy sound, but always shows a ray of hope engraved in these touching and melancholic melodies. Post-punk, dark wave, rock and shoegaze, all these genres form the backbone of this album, which has a lot to offer. “Nachtmusik”, an album you should not miss.