Being a nature & scenic lover, I was instantly attracted by this album. After reading a review I felt this urge to get in touch with this German duo called Klabautamann. The rest is history.
After numerous listens of Der Ort, here I am finally putting down on paper my impressions. As an acoustic guitar player, I just love hearing this organic instrument and those tonalities are very frequent on this great release. There are plenty of harmonious passages graced by acoustic / classical arpeggios, leads, riffs and they even used a 12 strings in a few places too. This is not a folk album though, since the Black Metal elements (rasps, tremolo picking, fast paces etc…) are the reference here. Der Ort is not the traditional type of Black Metal either, for this German duo has incorporated a nice progressive edge to their sound, while never wandering off melodic lands. Der Ort was composed by crafty musicians and all the compositions contain musical subtleties and hearing pleasures. Track#6, "Red Urn", is my overall favorite tune. Introduced by rain, sweet acoustic lead and arpeggios are following, as well as whispers and some 12 string arrangements (if my ears serve me right). Great music is what you get on this album. To name just a few good compositions: "Forlorn Sea", "Waldsschrat", "The Wanderer" and the title track.
So yes, Der Ort is a marvelous piece of Germanic / melodic Black Metal.
Track listing:
1 – Der Ort
2 – Forlorn Sea
3 – Winternacht
4 – The River
5 – Waldschrat
6 – Red Urn
7 – The Wanderer
8 – October