GEÏST is (not just) another rising German Black Metal band. Although the band was formed only about 18 months ago, they already released their second studio full length album. Such a fast working might raise the fear, the band unleashes just callow material, you know, in ardor of their successful debut Patina. But far from it!
Kainsmal can easily picks up its predecessor’s quality, and even tops it in many respects. At first, I really like the boosted “average pace” and aggressiveness. Additionally, not even one of the new songs is too lengthy, also a step forward. Another win for the album is the contribution of two recording session members, which added keyboard and ambience. Fortunately, all the attributes, that made Patina a great album, have been kept. GEÏST still play Black Metal, but different from what can be called standard. Uncommon arrangements and song structures create an unusually emotional and dark atmosphere, full of tension. I think as a reference song for Kainsmal, the title track can be taken: out of an acoustic intro, leading into a short fast pure Black Metal part, the listener is taken to a dark, doomy and mighty midtempo part in the middle. After a while, it abruptly turns back into wrathful Black Metal, and then follows the biggest surprise of the CD: right in this roar, you hear the famous, late German actor Klaus Kinski reciting Nietzsche’s “Vereinsamt”. The poem fits in here one hundred percent as it’s as hopeless as the other lyrics on Kainsmal. Then, still Kinski reciting, the music turns back into the acoustic part known from the beginning, and at the very end, there is just the actor’s voice speaking the last few lines of the poem. Similar things could be said about the other five songs, as they bring in allusions of famous German literature as well as self made exceptional lyrics; and of course they are arranged as impressing as Kainsmal.
I'd like to recommend to simply everyone to buy this album, and to listen to it again and again. At least that’s what I did. Anyone, who won’t be fascinated by this one, must be deaf ;)