While Angels Watch - Interregnum
A band which has been in existence since 1986, started in the post-punk realm (with a sound not that far away from the Joy Division/New-Order-sound). Started by Michael D. Victor. This was then fused with the dark and upcomin' proto neo-folk sound, already kick-started by the likes of Death In June and Current 93. 3 self-released albums on cassette were released in the period of 1986 to 1991. 11 years went, and a new album was released in 2002. Another compilation in 2011, which contained material from the 3 early cassette releases (see video)
Now, a new album was released back in late 2016 called Interregnum. Following a sound which does a good fusion between moody post punk and brooding English traditional neofolk. Fans of Sol Invictus, Fire+Ice, David E. Williams and Blood Axis should take notice, we may be talking about one of the best neofolk releases in recent times!. Released on a rather new neofolk label (since 2015) called Folkworld, which also have released the likes of Et Nihil and Non Audient.
The albums start off with Voices, a good start I might add. Try to imagine a slow and doomy folk version of New Order´s Blue Monday, well there you have it!. With additional psychedelic sounding guitars, lovely synth-work and rich sounding folk-guitars. And strange samples and voices talking... and talking to oblivion. Lovely sense of paranoia and doom here already. Next track Loki Rides takes you back to real traditional apocalyptic English Neo-folk, the sound quality is awesome and highly atmospheric. Beautiful guitars again, Victor´s fore-brooding and deep voice, shimmering bells, martial drummings (real ones of course) and breathtaking encores sweep your mind away.
This recipe follows all the up to the track Locust Moon. A more ambient and atmospheric direction from now on. Sorrow filled, beautiful, evocative and slightly ritualistic. A relaxing and soothing direction from the more dramatic and apocalyptic post-punk/folk start. Symbols in the Snow and Winter are among my favorite tracks on the album, perfect for the upcoming autumn. I can also reveal that our dear Patrick Leagas (ex-first Death In June percussionist/Sixth Comn) is featured on the Winter track. Kinda makes me think of Sixth Comn´s Winter Sadness, in a good but still original way.
All the relaxation stops here, colliding into the warlike anthem of Sound of War. Featuring Christoph D from Golgotha, and using lyrics originally done by Gitane Demone (Christian Death). A kind of the-calm-before-the-storm sort of a track reminds me of Controlled Bleeding for some reason. Imagining two armies facing each other on the battlefield here. The bitterness and epicness of Europa Aeterne follow up after the war, a real good track featuring Hott Howden on violin.
When you reach the end of the album, you reach the track called List 99. Takes you back again with Victor´s love for Joy Division/New-Order. Is it the love for Atmosphere, or is it Ceremony I am hearing? A very quiet acoustic track, which stops in its tracks to head crash into psychedelic industrial-space rock/post-punk. A mad way of ending this album, but it works!. Hear the album from start to finish, and you´ll know what I mean.
So in conclusion, a very GOOD neo-folk album which mixes different aspects of ambient and post-punk aesthetics into the mix. It also makes you curious, as to how the band sounded back in the 80s. If this album works as being some kind of a comeback album, it works as being that. I am hungry for more now, so then I just gonna have to wait on that.
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