Band:	Firtan
Album:	Ethos
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	September 2024
A review by:	AndyMetalFreak

01. Hrenga
02. Zores
03. Contra Vermes
04. Arkanum
05. Wermut Hoch Am Firmament
06. Moloch
07. Ruakh
08. Komm Herbei, Schwarze Nacht
09. Wenn Sich Mir Einst Alle Ringe Schließen

If you want to enjoy some disso-black and meloblack but can't decide on which to go for, how about something with an equal blend of both? Well, look no further, because Firtan have mixed up a perfect concoction with Ethos.

The German black metal quintet Firtan have been on quite a roll lately, offering listeners an unorthodox approach to black metal which blends dissonance with melody in quite a striking manner. This style is something we've heard throughout the band's 3 previous offerings. The band return two years after the reasonably high praised Marter with their 4th full-length release Ethos, an album which sees no change in line-up. However, it does feature an impressive guest list from vocalists J.J. (Harakiri For The Sky), and L.G. (Ellende), as well as Markus Stock performing dulcimer & choir voices. What does this latest album offer?

The theme behind Ethos is as complex and abstract as the music itself, by reflecting on decline and opportunity, it merges dissonance and melody together like nothing else done before. In essence, it's like a calm before the storm, only the storm is no mere storm, but an unrelenting force of devastating power that unleashes itself repeatedly. But, within the storm, there are beautiful moments of calm and tranquillity. Even if these moments are short-lived, one gets a sense of hope and peace, but then you never really know just how far out of the woods you are before the next storm arrives. "Hrenga" starts us off in this manner. Crafted by agonizing, passionate shouts and blackened demonic shrieks performed by Phillip Thienger, a relentless rhythm section powerfully driven by David Kempf's furious blast-beats and Oliver König's chaotic bass lines, and blackened dissonant-to-ferociously melodic guitar work provided by Christian S. and Phillip Thienger. This song is like a relentless hurricane which intensifies as it builds up, before erupting suddenly into sheer madness.

The form of the opening track continues onto "Zores", which, through its ridiculously heavy, multi-layered structure, engulfs you evermore into its terrifying, tortuous soundscape, at which point all your senses and emotions are beyond saving. If you've been fortunate not to have suffered from a severe anxiety attack before, then this, I can tell you, is as close a feeling you'll likely get to experiencing that sheer horror. This form where dissonance and melody collide unsurprisingly continues, the vocals continue to growl, shriek, and cry out with utter desperation, the riffs constantly alternate from dissonant Ulcerate-like, to ferociously melodic (almost Necrophobic in hypersonic mode) tremolos, and the rhythm section continually alternates from complex to groovy.

A few surprise elements also feature along the way, for instance "Arkanum" differs in that it summons evil, demonic, background chants, whilst Klara Bachmair majestically performs her beautiful violin strings. "Ruakh" is possibly the most structurally diverse song featured on the album, a track which contains evil, haunting chants, memorable solos, groovy drumming beats, delicious melodic riffs, and, when you think you've heard it all, there's even a dulcimer featured. Yet, due to some exceptional songwriting and musical compositions, none of these elements seem out of place, and it's crafted and performed superbly. "Wenn Sich Mir Einst Alle Ringe Schließen" is quite a remarkable way to finish the album off, well, in an almost gothic fashion, I'd say, with its beautifully melancholic piano melody, eerie synths, and sweeping, sorrowful violin strings. Now compare this to the intro, with these soft gorgeous melodies you wouldn't even think it was the same band.

Despite the heaviness being beyond crushing, and the level of ferocity being mind-blowingly off the scale, the guitar work somehow manages to retain that striking balance between dissonant and melodic. This can only be mastered through the highest quality level of production possible, and Firtan happen to be true masters of this art. The production here on Ethos contains one of the best sounds in modern black metal. If you like what this band has unleashed so far and think the previous effort Marter was a hit for you, then it's more than likely Ethos will blow your mind.