There are songs that haunt you; songs that instantly become fan favorites. Songs you can spin all day without ever tiring of. Songs that let you shed a few tears in the quiet corner of your dark room. We’re fortunate to live in an era where Black Metal has evolved significantly over the past few years, producing a wave of incredible music. I remember when I first listened to Winterfylleth’s The Imperious Horizon in its entirety last fall. I immediately messaged Lamentus, insisting he listen to “In Silent Grace” right away. Not long after, he replied, asking if I had noticed who the vocalist was. It took me a moment, but I eventually realized it was A.A. Nemtheanga, the same vocalist we both admire for his work on Void of Silence’s Human Antithesis, and of course, Primordial. When that song plays, I dare not interrupt it. The same goes for “Snakes and Vultures” by Uada, “Mdłości II” by Mgła, “Aura” by Saor, or “Apokatastasis Pantôn” by Deathspell Omega, to name just a few of my favorite songs from recent years. Gràb’s “Vom Gråb im Moos” definitely belongs in that category.
The song is actually part of a two-part story placed midway through Gràb’s latest album, Kremess (Funeral Feast). It begins with “Im Hexnhoiz (A Weihraz-Gschicht, Kapitel Oans)” and continues with “Vom Gråb im Moos (A Weihraz-Gschicht, Kapitel Zwoa).” Grànt, the vocalist and songwriter, said the story is based on a fairytale inspired by his childhood fantasies and the works of Otfried Preußler. These two tracks stand apart from the rest of the album, and from Gràb’s usual sound. Grànt explained, “We do have choirs sung by Thomas Helm and Markus Stock of EMPYRIUM, we do have lots of dulcimer, of course, a viola, acoustic guitars, and even a flute. Hell, that ending part of ‘Vom Gråb im Moos’ gives me such strong ULVER – Bergtatt vibes!”
The reason I’m writing about a song or album you’ve probably already listened to a few times since its release in late February is bittersweet: Matthias Jell (aka Grànt) has announced he’s stepping away from music due to health issues. Gràb will play three more shows later this year, and then that may be it for Matthias, and possibly also for Gnást, the other member of this Bavarian black metal duo.
Let’s listen to the album one more time, and don’t miss the song “Leere,” where Markus “Schwadorf” Stock of EMPYRIUM has beautifully reimagined Burzum’s Tomhet on synth and hammered dulcimer:
“Death and rebirth, a new awakening, a sunrise… An end. A beginning. Born from emptiness.”
— Markus on Leere
