We are beyond awakening now. Their beaming solar cult flourishes at scouring volume, an eruptive raze to drown all mid-quietus planetary groaning. Out of this world and thankful to be briefly out of mind, decidedly earthen means are employed to reach a deepest-yet humoral immersion on this fourth full-length from Gelderland-borne black metal duo Fluisteraars. A respite from the strained neck and delirious eyes of the restlessly plucking artisan, ‘Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking‘ is the deeply traced burl of their minds unbounded within three freeing moments of psychotropic bliss. A harried chase after tracers in the corner of a glass eye, the organisch soar and improvised nature of this recording transcends the typical results of post-black music by an entire elevation. Surreal bliss to shock into motion your cold fish of a psyche.

Without context or even a bit of translation on your side you will yet manage some instinctive gleaning of the right mood and meaning behind ‘Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking’ as it plays — Even if the black metal aspect of the music has you holding fast to nihil, it will eventually pass. That said, there exists plenty context available here which can only enrich the attentive listener. Surely influenced by 70’s psychedelic/progressive rock effluence, this follow-up to ‘Bloem‘ (#20 on my 100 Best of 2020) sounds like a precarious experiment on paper: A less needled-over capture of the creative self, or, an act swift enough that the self cannot interrupt the natural flow of ideas. Yes, this means improvisation is a key part of each piece, often their most shining moments herein, but this should not suggest amateurism; Having been recorded in the space of three days for the sake of spontaneous generation and necessarily minimal use of traditional recording technique, ‘Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking’ does not lack the melodic lustre or sun-drenched fluidity Fluisteraars are known for. Although this three-pronged long-form post-black metal presentation impresses with this free-wheeling modus in mind, it’d be little more than a keen side note if these choices of render, lyrics, and artwork did not so completely speak to, and enhance the intended transcendental uplift of the music itself.

Affirmation through post-black metal realism? If you’re in the dark as to what exactly Fluisteraars are, the gist of their prior development can be accessed via my review of ‘Bloem’ from last year denoting that the current sparkling naturalism of the band, a melodic form of a black metal which can be described as several generations post-‘Autumn Aurora’ music (however reductive that might seem) which had found its most personal angle around 2018 on the ‘De Oord‘ split with Turia and expanded via unbound leaps since. ‘Bloem’ was the major breakthrough if not for its ruthlessly detailed neatness then its gorgeous fluidity, melding an arthouse-ousted feeling with the violent sluice of melodic post-black metal driving fast. We hear that same band reeling in as opener “Het overvleugelen der meute” encircles us, noting that the high-set wooden ceiling refracted resonance of their previous record is here, warmed alongside a silvery rhythm guitar tone which blazes along throughout the piece. You won’t have to crank the record to ungainly levels to hear every corner of the space but it will help when catching the finer details per their use of analog effects and captivating ambiance. This is emphasized in the first of just a few percussive breaks on the album, starting around ~6:00 minutes as we roll into feedback manipulation and various effects I could likely never parse. The tribal roll of the drums and the ominous advance of this moment serves as the adherence between the opener and “Brand woedt in mijn graf”, which begins on a similar wavelength and soon howls its way into an elaborate reveal wherein the sun melts through the clouds as we reach its fiery two minute mark. The piece itself holds use there in that moment for several minutes, taking full advantage of the surreal entrancement which the moment provides in succession. The sonar and chimes that send us off at the end of this song again bleed directly into the third piece, at this point it is clear enough that ‘Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking’ is designed as a single ~35 minute sitting, an practical mediation in three stages.

To send our heads sailing in the air at twilight, the 20+ minute entirety of Side B, “Verscheuring in de Schemering”, should either be considered the major peak of the event or an more elaborately sewn together duo of pieces. This is where the aforementioned improvisation or “jammed” feel arrives most clearly during the three minute break before the final third of the song erupts. This is also the piece where the melodies take on their most sentimental sway and the simplicity of the greater piece arrives. From my point of view the impression was already made at this point, emotional transference is the major goal here, yet it took this final piece to drive subsequent repeat listening. Left on repeat and enjoyed however it manages to catch the ear, we can acknowledge an slowly uplifting verve appearing throughout ‘Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking’ defined by sweeping, determinedly ethereal black metal pieces with harsh, expressive vein-popping vocals which are offset by three calm yet experimentally employed plateaus of respite. Though it makes sense to marvel over the state of mind and ‘place’ afforded the impressive capture of the album the experience expressly states itself as a reflection upon naturalistic experience, almost shoving the listener down an empty sunlit trail for their prescribed hike towards perspective. It will all come together best, and worm into mind deepest, while you are in a state of motion be it walking, driving, or dizzied by your own choice of stupor. They have pried themselves freest within this fine work and I cannot help but get caught up in the exuberant flood resultant. A very high recommendation.

Info:
ARTIST:	FLUISTERAARS
TITLE:	Gegrepen Door de Geest der Zielsontluiking
TYPE:	LP
LABEL(S):	Eisenwald
RELEASE DATE:	August 27th, 2021
BUY & LISTEN:	Bandcamp
GENRE(S):	Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Black Metal

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