Album Review: Die Falle by Bergrizen (Purity Through Fire)

Ukrainian black metal masters, Bergrizen, release their highly anticipated seventh album, Die Falle, on the 21st of December 2023. Die Falle is released via Purity Through Fire and will be available on digipack CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

For 15 years now, Bergrizen have been standard-bearers for the new wave of Ukrainian black metal which honors the old. The work of one Myrd’raal, Bergrizen have released five studio albums and even a live album, nearly all of which have been released in some manner by Purity Through Fire. Just this autumn, the band released a stopgap album in Orathania, largely comprised of ambient and dark folk with fierce-yet-fleeting moments of black metal. Now, born in the hardest days, Bergrizen deliver their all-new (and all black metal) album, Die Falle.

Die Falle was born from strife, as anyone following the war in Ukraine can attest. Its genesis dates back to late summer 2021, but work was forced to stop in winter 2022. As the band explain:

Believe me, it’s a very difficult to write music when the missiles are flying over your head and smashing buildings on the streets. It’s a very difficult when you are sitting without electricity 12 hours per day or sometimes even more than 24 hours. Also, Myrd’raal was in a hospital – he had some problems with his lungs – and the way to record the vocal was uncertain. Other band members were spending all their money, energy, and time for the volunteering, trying every day to help soldiers and their friends who were on the frontline. We weren’t sure that we would be able to finish Die Falle, but we wanted to say something about the situation in our country through music.

Bergrizen is Myrd’raal Bergrizen who writes all vocals and poetry but the band is supported by many session and guest appearances with R. on drums, tambourine, shakers, triangle and orchestration, Dmnt and V.D. on guitars and A. on bass. They aren’t giving much away here. We also have Olgerd on keys and orchestration and Ogrim on guitars.

Looking back on our way, sometimes it is hard to believe that we did it. Die Falle is a very important album for us because it’s unique both in terms of music and the story of creation. We support Ukrainian art in every possible way. And if someone wants to explain how to create music, especially black metal, sitting on a comfortable couch, welcome to Ukraine.

A sombre slow down with clear ringing guitar notes and a little more effect work gives you a brief moment of respite before the song comes back in for the most impressive of sections with huge drums and a huge guitar sound. This is brilliant. What a way for Bergrizen to start off an album, you feel like you have had your money’s worth by the end of the first two tracks. We have more to come though and the quality doesn’t drop. Neither does the creativity or variety on offer.

Der Rituelle Mord (Öffnung Der Tore) is a little shorter so goes for the throat right from the off but also adds a layer of what I think is piano melody underneath the ripping assault of more traditional sounding black metal. There is still melody, still atmpshere but it’s also a mosh inducing, balls to the wall assault where you almost feel for the drummer who gets only brief moments of respite. Transitions aplenty still come and wait for the switch up into what isn’t far from a bit of groove metal. That’s insane and brilliant. Die Falle (Der Wanderer 3) also treats us to some piano as we head back into the 10 minute plus songs.

The intro is gorgeous, from the piano to the fuller symphonic sounds that join it, it’s a stunning track. Delivering in so many ways, from the gorgeous symphonic momnents to the aggressive intensity of the blacker metal, the screaming lead guitar melody and different vocal tones, sometimes shouting, sometimes growling. An explosion into insane levels of speed comes, then back comes that melody – it’s a relentless and mesmerising assault on the senses from a band that are clearly masters of their own sound. The violins and a sort of drum solo give most of us a breather part way through but only so we can prepare for the intensity that comes after it. Stunning song.

We sadly reach the end but what a journey. One more to go though and this time it is Verschneite Winternacht, the shortest track on the album at just 4 and a half minutes. That makes you think it will just be a ripping black metal track but the band still manage to be hugely creative by instead offering up a gorgeous and atmpsheric pure symphonic track. It is lovely, it fits the album sound nicely but I must admit it left me feeling a little shortchanged. That makes it only 4 tracks that contain the core band and traditional metal instruments and while those 4 songs are beyond expectation, I can’t help thinking this would have been better placed half way through with Die Falle then closing on a proper Bergrizen song.

I don’t want to be negative though. Die Falle is far too good an album to leave on a negative. It is black metal, but with plenty of post, atmospheric and symphonic elements – so many, I assume traditonal black metal fans will scoff a little at this. Those more inclinded to just check out great music will be in for a treat. Bergrizen have delivered a masterclass in song crafting, hitting us with exciting tracks that bob and weave, twist and turn. Musically excellent with loads of layers, it’s a damn fine album and might be just the release you need to get away from that damned Christmas music being played everywhere.

Bergrizen Links

Facebook – Bandcamp – Apple Music – Purity Through Fire