Finsterforst – Jenseits (Mini-Album)
Release Date: 8th September 2023
Label: AOP Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Folk Metal, Black Metal.
FFO: Moonsorrow, Finntroll, Heidevolk.
Review By: Trina Julian Edwards
Friday, September 8, the German black/folk metal quintet, Finsterforst, release the eagerly-awaited Jenseits via AOP Records. This special mini-album was partially funded by their fans, who will most certainly be pleased with the impressive finished product.
Since their beginning in 2004, Finsterforst have released five albums and two EPs. They began as a folk metal band, but over the years, they have developed what they refer to as Black Forest Metal, a nod to their roots in the Black Forest region, as well as their unique meld of black and folk metal. Far from playing it safe and resting on their laurels, however, Finsterforst have pushed the boundaries of their sound to new heights. Jenseits is an epic. It’s massive, it’s immersive… It feels like a film soundtrack.
Jenseits is technically only one song, coming in at almost 40 minutes long. Although it’s broken into four movements, it is best enjoyed as a whole. The album features Olli Berlin on extreme and clean vocals, Simon Schillinger on guitars, synth, orchestral arrangements, and vocals, David Schuldis on guitars and vocals, Tobias Weinreich on bass, Cornelius Heck on drums and vocals, and Sebastian Scherrer on keyboards and vocals. Jenseits also welcomes two guest musicians, Johannes Joseph on accordion and vocals and Sevan Kirder on duduk, flute, and vocals.
For the purpose of review, I’ll refer to each section of the work individually. The first movement is titled Kapitel I – Freiheit. The opening a cappella vocals are captivating, but when the harmonies come in, it’s magical. It’s both a little bit sad but also dramatic. I can picture myself standing on top of the Belchan mountain, looking out over the valley. The dynamics build and build until it drops this monster groove, and I was absolutely not prepared. The harsh vocals are the most perfect complement to these dark, moody riffs. The soaring vocals on the choruses and the orchestral additions, especially that brass, lift the piece and balance out the heaviness. This movement leans a bit more to the folk side of the spectrum, and it’s a spectacular, cinematic opus of an opener.
We flow into the next movement, Kapitel II – Dualität, which takes us through the next nine minutes. It’s a powerful grind, reminding me of the grueling march of a monstrous army across the landscape. The vocals are primarily harsh and fierce, which makes the clean sections even more compelling. If Tolkien’s Uruk-hai could sing, this is what they would sound like. The brass is used to dramatic effect here, punctuating the rhythm and giving it some added punch. The moving leads flow like a rain-swollen river, animated and lively but also near to overflowing and just a little bit dangerous. You can certainly hear the black metal influences in this darker (no pun intended) movement.
Next we slowly segue into Kapitel III – Reflexionen. The clean guitar tones and the pure, high notes of the flute open the piece and lead you on this walk through the woods at twilight. The tempo is somber and thoughtful, but there’s no lack of variation. This movement is brimming with atmosphere, and it feels exactly like a folk song should. The clean melodic vocal line is haunting but earnest as it speaks to the theme of reflection. I remember little of my German, but I didn’t need it to pick up on the mood. These low harmonies against the acoustic instruments are another beautiful layer of texture in the tapestry of Jenseits.
The final movement, Kapitel IV – Katharsis, is the longest section of our journey, clocking in around 16 minutes. The semi-spoken intro is followed by a pummeling onslaught of drums and bass. The harsh vocals are commanding, but also moving. There’s a lovely instrumental break highlighting traditional instruments, followed by the dramatic brass leading us back. There’s a drop in tempo around the 6:30 mark that slowly builds and flows into the next section of the piece, which is a huge, melodic beast driving everything forward. The tremolo picking heralds an even speedier tempo, as the piece gains steam to carry us through to the end. I loved the return to the melody of the first movement with those powerful vocals, and the eerie, almost sinister ending of this section was perfection.
Well, if you couldn’t tell, I loved it. I got a bit fanciful, yes, but how could I not? If Lord of the Rings had a metal soundtrack, Jenseits would be it. There’s so much going on, it’s hard to articulate what’s happening. The movements are not specifically “a folk metal song” or “a black metal song,” but all of these influences are infused throughout the entire work. The arrangements are so densely layered, and the skill of the musicians and the high-quality production give it that cinematic quality that is just mesmerizing. It’s very fluid despite the different movements, and it’s also exceedingly dynamic without losing any of its cohesiveness. It’s evocative and atmospheric, melancholy at times, but also thoughtful and intense. While there are plenty of elements of Finsterforst’s earlier works on this EP, and they are certainly no strangers to the long, epic song, Jenseits feels like there is just more of everything. It’s more symphonic, more deliberate, and more ambitious in scope. If you’re a fan of either folk or black metal, you’ll want to give Jenseits a listen. It’s definitely an experience. 
(5 / 5)
