Band:	Geïst
Album:	Galeere
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	May 11, 2009
A review by:	Jeff

01. Galeere
02. Einen Winter Auf See
03. Durch Lichtlose Tiefen
04. Helike
05. Unter Toten Kapitänen

No need to lie and tell you that I was familiar with Geïst before that I listened to this album but their new release, "Galeere" just convinced me to check their whole discography. At first, I thought that it was simply a new band of Black Metal but they're more than that and I think that you should have a look at their new release to understand that Geïst's music is just really deep. Black Metal purists will maybe say that it's not true Black and they will be right but if you like Suicidal Black, Pagan Metal and even Prog, you'll simply discover something great.

"Galeere" is a really open-minded release. The music is a real melting pot of different genres and it works really well because the songs, from the beginning to the end are all deep as hell but always with the melody which will entertain you as much as possible. The vocals are the only real link with classic Black, they're heavy, raw and aggressive but the music and its structure cannot be compared to classic Black. The songs can be slow, and become faster (with Pagan melodies) and finally turn into something really different, with piano for example. I really like the Progressive side of the music, this is not a simple basic structure, verse, chorus, verse etc. This is progressive, not Prog Metal of course but enough complex to be categorized in the genre and I like it yes. Sure, I don't have the pretention to be the master of Black Metal because this is not my favorite Metal music and that's probably why I really like "Galeere" but with a bit of objectivity I think that a lot of people, including pure Black Metal fans, should love a lot the release. This is not simple, this is original, varied and intelligent.

As you know, the album is not a classic Black Metal release and the band didn't choose to have a crusty recording but a good one. On the other hand, their music deserved it in my opinion in reason of all the different things that we can find in it. Its interpretation is also really good, Geïst is a band which plays complex music and does it well. Even the cover-art rocks actually, seriously this is a great discovery for me.

"Galeere" is a nice album which features a lot of different musical influences. This is of course this good originality which sublime its interest and the fact that five long songs are all surprising, in addition to be good of course. Don't believe that "Galeere" lacks of violence, the songs are all powerful, but like with Vreid and even Shining music, they have something else to give to the listeners. Everybody who likes deep music should like this release, from the fans of the most extreme music to the fans of "elitist" ones. Geïst's last release is highly recommended if you're looking for something different.