Firtan – Ethos
Release Date: 13th September 2024
Label: AOP Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Extreme Metal, Black Metal, Progressive Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal.
FFO: Agalloch, Ellende, Wolves In The Throne Room, Panzerfaust, Panopticon.
Review By: Rick Farley
Germany’s Firtan seemingly need no introduction these days as a band that’s become rather high on the scale of quality modern black metal. For the uninitiated, Firtan with the release of their highly acclaimed second album Okeanos in 2018, quickly reached an underground cult like status in the extreme metal world. 2022 brought us the release of their third full-length, Marter, who many thought solidified their place at the top of the heap and brought the quintet to the forefront of extreme bands to keep an eye out for. Now September 2024, we are upon the final moments before the unleashing of their highly anticipated fourth album Ethos via AOP Records. An album that’s fiercer and harsher than the last, but still unveils all the horrific beauty contained within. Atmospheric, progressive, vile, crushing and serenely enchanting are all adjectives that sit easily with this band. However, these words do this album a slight injustice merely by not having enough oomph to truly describe it.
Ethos marks an evolving of everything Firtan already does well. Menacing second wave inspired black metal, with progressive elements and unique atmosphere created with haunting instrumentation. Violins, piano, acoustics all combine in tense harmony with nasty blackened riffs, agonizing screams and punishing blast beats. This record is full of layers and layers of depth that’s to be both discovered and painfully experienced. On the surface, this is about as ugly as a record can get, dissonance mixed with extremes that are meant to sear your flesh off with acidic intensity. The equivalent of being dragged through the murky sludge, wounds exposed, and bones broken, but still conscious enough to know that the worst is still to come. Along with that horrifying realization comes an inner peace that’s reflected with deceptive beauty and comforting delirium on your way towards oblivion. The juxtaposition of melancholy, vibrancy and brutality is what makes Firtan so special, and Ethos is a masterclass in the emptiness of existence. The songwriting and musicianship here are top-notch, as well as the execution of all the intricacies that make this record so entrancing and complex.
Opening track Hrenga is all you really need to hear to determine there’s a harrowing journey ahead of you. Rhythmic chugging, droning melodies and shrieking growls all lead you into a captivating mix of chaos and tranquillity. J.J (Harakiri For The Sky) lend his signature vocals to this powerful track. A soothing mix of calm clean guitar melodies midway through that amplifies that heaviness and pure aggressive nature of the track are a welcome respite from being crushed entirely for seven minutes.
Arkanum starts with a strong toned clean guitar and violin melodies. Low gutturals with walls of distortion follow, directing you through the sludgy depths of this heavy track. Lumbering airiness, tribalistic drums and thick atmosphere bring the huge sound full circle with swirling melodic passages amongst the slow moving chord structures.
Wermut hoch am Firmament blazes with searing black metal intensity. Ignited tremolo picked guitars and blast beats, assault your senses for the duration of the track. Utterly relentless track that features a guest vocal spot from L.G. (Ellende).
Each song is full of musical extremes that tie everything together, as well challenge the listener to do more than just hear it. The layered ambience will seep its way in, like a sickened infection that lays dormant for a brief period of time before it bores open your skull and grows to a colossal beast. Ethos will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression for a long time. Believe the hype.
(5 / 5)
