1914 “Eschatology of War/Für Kaiser, Volk und Vaterland!” 2CD

Mazzar Records, 2016

Music: Blackened Death Metal / Doom Metal
Website: https://www.facebook.com/1914band
Duration:
“Eschatology of War” CD1: 51:53 minutes (10 tracks)
“Für Kaiser, Volk und Vaterland!” CD2: 55:13 minutes (10 tracks)
Country: Ukraine

This album is a double CD. CD1 is entitled “Eschatology of War” and contains material originally released in the digital version by Archaic Sound in 2015. The content of CD2 is entitled “Für Kaiser, Volk Und Vaterland!” and comes from two sources. The tracks from 1 to 4 were taken from the split with MINEWERFER and were released in 2016 by Archaic Sound. Whereas the tracks from 5 to 10 were released in 2016 by the band under the title “Für Kaiser, Volk und Vaterland” in the digital version.

A detailed discussion of the each songs contained on the CD1 of “Eschatology of War” would take a lot of time, because the music is so rich in ideas and is diverse. The work of the band is dedicated to the First War of World. They are fascinated by this history. They have a lot of knowledgeable in this subject. The fragments of recordings of this times were skillfully interwoven into individual tracks. Many years ago it would have been very difficult to find. But in nowadays by the Internet it is easily feasible. The album begins the song “Long Way to Tipperary”. Probably it is taken from the old shellac gramophone record. This Irish song was sung by English-speaking soldiers of the War of World. The joyous sounds are gradually drowned out by the sounds of battle, going smoothly to the second track – the attack of Metal music. The next works also include interesting inserts: the German version of the Christmas carol “Silent Night” performed by a woman, the shouts of the French officers and soldiers, a French singing of some group, the fragments of Italian radio communications, the woman’s memories of war in English-language, and a some song of classical music (I did not recognize it, because I do not know this music), the sounds of military trumpets. And in addition the sounds of war there were used: the single shots and the series of machine guns, the explosions, the reloading of weapons, the whistling of bullets, the cries of frightened people.

Musically, the songs are very varied, with varying forms of expression. There are fragments in style of extreme Metal like Black Metal and less extreme fragments like gloomy Heavy Metal, powerful and mighty Metal. But there are also moments of climate and very rhythmic moments. The vocals are diverse, sometimes in style of Black Metal, sometimes – the whispers, also lofty or desperate vocals. In “Ottoman Rise” we hear Near Eastern melodies and singing. The guitarists are very good and they have no problem with such complex material. The phrases of guitar in the song “Frozen in Trenches” sometimes reminds me QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (“First it giveth”). The playing of drums is rich, it uses multiple rhythms and automatic bass drum and the tom-tom drums in “Ottoman Rise”. For me, “Eschatology of War” deserves the highest praise. It is great concept-album. The theme is the hell of war. These all elements fit to themselves. I give the highest rating.

The second disc of this double CD titled “Für Kaiser, Volk Und Vaterland!” introduces us by the old track, probably taken from a century-old track. The orchestra plays the national anthem of Germany. Two next songs are completely in the style of “Eschatology of War”. The fragments of Black Metal are mixed by the climatic motifs. There is also heavy and gloomy Metal. In the begining of track “8x50mm. Repetirgewehr” is distorted melodeclamation. In the background you can hear a soldier running from blasts. There is Metal in the average tempo, which is passing to the aggressive Black Metal… And then there is beautifull climate with a sad playing of guitar. And after that, in the end we hear noises of reloading and gunfire. The next track is a little stereotypical and monotonous remix. Tracks 5,6 and 7 of this demo are scanty in meaning of the musical expression from the versions of “Eschatology of War”, although the songs are quite interesting. The next track again is not very interesting remix.

Then on the disc we find a cover of NIRVANA “Something in the Way” – it is sensational! It is psychedelic, spacey and psychotic track. Perhaps many metalheads don’t like the band NIRVANA, but we let are listen to this version! At the end of the outro is the German military song to which imposed the sounds in the style of harsh-noise, it is an interesting effect (although this is not a new idea). Album “Für Kaiser, Volk und Vaterland” is uneven… the interesting songs are mixed with poorer. But the album as a whole is good.

Tracklist:
CD1 „Eschatology of War”:
1.War
2.Gasmask
3.Frozen in Trenches (Christmas Truce)
4.Verdun
5.Caught in the Crossfire
6.Zeppelin Raids
7.Ottoman Rise
8.Arditi
9.Battlefield
10.War Out

CD2 “Für Kaiser, Volk und Vaterland!”:
1.An Meine Völker! (intro)
2.Karpatenschlacht (Dezember 1914 – Marz 1915)
3.8x50mm. Repetiergewehr M.95
4.Gasmask (Eastern Front rmx by Solar Owl)
5.Caught in the Crossfire (Trench Demo 2014)
6.Frozen in Trenches (Trench Demo 2014)
7.Zeppelin Raids (Trench Demo 2014)
8.Zeppelin Raids (Western Front rmx by Asmodai)
9.Something in the Way (Nirvana Cover, Schclacht an der Sonne Version)
10.Preparing for the Next War (outro)

Line-up:
Ditmar Kumarberg – vocal
Liam Fessen – guitar
Basil Lagendorf – guitar
Urmin von Heinessen – bass
Serg Seeman – drums
Sgt. Andrew Knifeman – guitar

Rate:
CD1 “Eschatology of War” 10/10
CD2 “Für Kaiser, Volk und Vaterland!” 7.5/10