With Die Rückkehr des Barden, Kampfeswut delivers a 33-minute record that breathes the forest, ancient myths, and pagan rebellion. Released on Acid Vicious in digipack format, the album stands at the crossroads of black metal, folk, and a touch of punk that injects a raw, gritty energy.
From the very first notes, you can feel the pagan spirit, with tracks shifting between abrasive passages close to traditional black metal and more contemplative moments, where accordion and talharpa bring an archaic atmosphere. The themes explored – mythology, nature, war – root the album in a sincere and committed approach, far removed from superficial folklore.
The duo of Wintergeist (guitars, vocals, drum programming, accordion, talharpa, orchestrations, jaw harp) and Doctor Infernum (five-string bass, lyrics) shows great complementarity: one creates varied and often surprising soundscapes, while the other gives weight with lyrics and a solid bass foundation. The result is both primitive and thoughtful, as if the band were trying to resurrect an ancient spirit through a modern lens.
Personally, I stumbled across this album by chance, having never heard of Kampfeswut before. It was an immediate strike: this black/folk blend straight out of Germany instantly caught my attention. Raw, atmospheric, sometimes martial, sometimes meditative… but always authentic.
In short, Die Rückkehr des Barden is a record that deserves to be discovered by anyone who enjoys black metal opening itself up to other textures without losing its strength or its soul.
- Bandcamp: Kampfeswut
- Instagram: Kampfeswut
