### Negativvm: Tronie

#### 26/03/12 || Habakuk

Cvme vn, arvn’t we vver that shit by nvw? Apparently not. I’d probably not go near any band with a name like that, but the guys wrote me a nice email, and fellow German that I am, how could I refuse to review their promo package? Exactly, so here it is, although I am not really your go-to guy when it comes to black metal. Who cares, this is quite decent material.

The guys clearly want come across as a serious bunch with their attempt at poetic lyricism (in German, so don’t bother), social commentary and sporting of weird stage names. Even good old Adorno makes a quoted appearance about the ineptitude of popular music. Is that a good sign? I don’t know, maybe it’s just pretty pretentious. Anyway, the music is a lot more straightforward than these things might suggest, and fans of black metal will definitely find something to suit their tastes. That is, if they (you?) are okay with a rather sluggish, solemn take at the genre, sure outfitted with enough blastbeats, but definitely with a “slow” feel to it, if you know what I mean. There definitely is no punk, death or thrash influence here, which also means there is not really that “frantic” drive to the music. If you’re looking for that, go somewhere else. I’d imagine however that people into doom metal might be more into this kind of sound, complete with ambient bits, samples and all that.

Definitely not an album that guarantees love on first listen, I can’t deny there is some atmospheric quality to it, which is also backed up by the warm bass that, for once in black metal is not absolutely buried in the mix. All instrumental delivery is rock solid, the production is good, although the vocals could be a tad quieter in my book. If you don’t understand German, I guess the raspy singing will blend rather well with the music.

Don’t expect to be blown away, but if you have an interest in Drudkh-ish black metal, you can do no wrong with this either.

- Information
- Released: 2011
- Label: independent
- Website: Negativvm MySpace
- Band
- T. Maximilian: bass, vocals
- Heiland von der Aue: guitars
- Täufer: guitars, vocals
- Willem von Kaysersberg: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Lingchi
- 02. Kein Himmel
- 03. Unter den Uhren
- 04. Menetekel
- 05. Chöre aus Gold