Album Review: Weltenbrandt – Transzendenz Schatten Romantik (Self Released)

Weltenbrandt, the Austrian atmospheric post and melodic black metal band, will release their second album, ‘Transzendenz Schatten Romantik’ on August 25th, 2024.

Creating an immersive style of black metal that is heavy on emotion, Weltenbrandt look to build upon the strong impression they made with their debut album, ‘Schöpfung’. Doing so via the medium of expansive and creative heaviness mixed with deep melancholy. Something that is expertly showcased across the nine tracks of this album. Where the interweaving of blackened ferocity, rivets of post rock, thick layers of melody, and profound ambient elements proves to be an overwhelming experience. Be prepared to feel as Transzendenz Schatten Romantik is all about emotional value.

Weltenbrandt have nailed the balance of dark heaviness and light melody though, and this beautiful marriage is perfectly displayed with aplomb on the opening track Melancholia Urgewalt and the following Apotropaion. The latter of which features P. G. of Groza. The former is more melody-laced, the latter more errant when it comes to ambience, but both tracks feature icy blasts of instrumental chaos and howling vocals. Be under no false illusions, for all its melodic melancholic ways, this album is still darkly savage.

There are very few tracks that don’t wow, but there are tracks that stand that little bit taller and one such track is the mighty Resilienz. This is pinnacle of Weltenbrandt’s forlorn post/black blend and one of the most despairing pieces of all. It’s stunning and will likely leave you breathless. It’s sensible that an interlude track called Ornament follows and focuses on being melodramatic and calming. Albeit from Weltenbrandt’s inimitable sad and beautiful stance.

The high quality showcased so far is heavily present as the album passes the halfway point with an epic turn via Prana. A track that features the immense talents of  J. J. Frühlingsbringer from Karg/Harakiri for the Sky. Before Vergängnisdenkmal showcases a harmonic combination of symphonic elements and powerful post rock heaviness. The entire experience of this track is capped off with clean vocals, courtesy of Jeanny of Anhedonique.

There’s another gorgeous interlude called Serenade, followed then by some of the album’s most intense vocals on Broken Crosses, leading to a sublime finale called Tiefste Rast. Where, if you take every element heard so far on this album and roll it into one, you’ll have this immense track. An ending filled with melancholic grandeur and blackened power, Weltenbrandt went big for this finale, and it pays off.

Transcendenz Schatten Romantik is a stunning release that will delight fans of soul-rendering atmospheres and heartfelt melodic heaviness. Weltenbrandt’s approach to this combination, and so much more, is hugely impressive and this album is the exclamation point on the talents within the band. A must listen and one of the strongest releases of the year overall.

Weltenbrandt – Transzendenz Schatten Romantik Track Listing:

1. Melancholia Urgewalt
2. Apotropaion (feat. P. G. of Groza)
3. Resilienz
4. Ornament
5. Prana (feat. J. J. Frühlingsbringer of Karg/Harakiri for the Sky)
6 Vergängnisdenkmal (feat. Jeanny of Anhedonique)
7. Serenade
8. Broken Crosses (feat. Silvano of Regnum Noricum)
9. Tiefste Rast (feat. L. G. of Ellende)

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