A more than worthwhile work out of black metal is always something that’s massively intriguing by all accounts is something that absolutely has to be talked about since the scene can often feel oversaturated, but, like many other styles, should you look in the right place you can find material that is no less than staggering. With this being the first effort from this band, it’s understandable for someone to think not much may be achieved here. But, with a background and several albums already done in the world of funeral doom, Gestrüpp had plenty going for it already before even hitting that play button and it’s the ensuing record that shows us right away that this is not another name to be tossed under the rug.
While nothing extremely different is at play here throughout the over hour-long experience that is “Below the Trees”, it’s important to take into heavy account the execution that which Gestrüpp is pulling off in every single minute to provide us with an amazingly flavorful album of black metal that’s soaked in atmospheric elements and post-metal cues that result in a glorious amalgamation. Gestrüpp does no less than exceed at every possible turn that slowly allows this album to climb up above so much of the other competitors when it comes to the album’s composition, power, musicianship, and a tremendous passion that permeates the entirety of these eight tracks that play off each other wondrously as “Below the Trees” slowly takes shape into something that’s damn near awe-inspiring. There are plenty of bands out there throughout the underground that after however many albums just find themselves on a level that cannot be denied for their talent has become so honed and deadly that it’s a true task to resist it, and it’s shocking to see Gestrüpp get close to that mark already on the first album! Give it a few more albums, or maybe even just one, and I can almost guarantee that “Below the Trees” will be seen as the start of something truly glorious as we bask in the growing glory that Gestrüpp will slowly be making for themselves over time, and with the excellence that’s already at play with “Below the Trees” then I cannot even dare to think that this debut is the best that we will see from this very promising name.
Such a debut of this magnitude should not be subjected to the fate of obscurity, but should that happen then I can promise that many of who hear what’s to be heard within “Below the Trees” will find themselves next to stunned by the performance. Gestrüpp has put one hell of a first step forward by all accounts, and I can only hope that any and all follow-up strides will be no less than bold, daring, and confident.
LISTEN to “Below the Trees” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Gestrüpp on Facebook here.
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