Band:	Alexander Paul Blake
Album:	Die Rückkehr Ins Goldene Zeitalter
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	April 27, 2012
Guest review by:	Windrider

01. Prolog: Abenddämmerung
02. 1. Szene: Walden
03. 2. Szene: Weltenbrandasche
04. Interlude: Besinnung
05. 3. Szene: Naturgeisterschauspiel
06. 4. Szene: Kosmosmelodie
07. 5. Szene: Waldkathedrale
08. Interlude: Freiheitsprozession
09. 6. Szene: Wolfsnacht
10. 7. Szene: Transzendenz
11. 8. Szene: Wiedererweckung
12. Epilog: Morgentauidylle

German black metal is booming right now, bands like Todtgelichter or Der Weg Einer Freiheit are spreading onto the whole metal world. Alexander Paul Blake is also from Germany, but not as avantgarde as the two mentioned. This new project concentrates on the classical ways of black metal compared with some nature mysticism. There are acoustic parts (and whole songs) as well but where the electric stuff comes out it resembles the early 90's releases. The band itself mentions influences such as Wolves In The Throne Room, Ulver or Agalloch. The music is rather mid tempo based and heavy in the debut album Die Rückkehr Ins Goldene Zeitalter.

The band name is actually the pseudonym under which the only member already conducts his band Eden Weint Im Grab, among others. One can hear the experience of this dude in his music as well. A most interesting part about this album is the production. Where electric guitars, bass and drums come with a typical black metal production that is raw and nasty, the vocals and acoustic instruments are perfectly clear. You must get used to that but it's pretty awesome after a while. Song structures are different from one track to another so it doesn't become boring. I must say I really adore this album for it brings some fresh air into the scene. There really are many disharmonies but in great moments they merge with epic melodies. Maybe the only weak point is that as a whole it could be a little more vivid and independent from certain shapes that appear from time to time.

The lyrics tell of nature and the need for humanity to find their way back to it; the term "forest" is the dominating one while "civilization" is treated fiendishly. In its core the meanings are most likely as the ones in the early satanic black metal scene, just without Satan. Violent parts are of course also featured as shown in the most brutal song "Wolfsnacht," but overall it is more common for the band to create atmosphere. For the most melodic and anthem-like song "Naturgeisterschauspiel" a video has already been shot, featuring nothing but the endless woods. Some tracks also include a fucking lot of black irony ("Weltenbrandasche") or synthetic melodies ("Waldkathedrale") like one knows from the first two Cradle Of Filth studio albums.

But the best thing about Die Rückkehr Ins Goldene Zeitalter is the incredible performance. I want to mention especially the varied drums and the vocals. Both clean and harsh vocals are included and the harsh ones are as black metal as one could imagine, most distorted till you think the devil is crying. My favourite song is also the longest and the most typical track of the album, and is called "Transzendenz", it's the one I'd suggest to listen to if you are interested. Now I am really anxious what comes with the second album which is said to be released not too long after this one. Really some underground masterpiece here.