The responses
for the new material of the German BETHLEHEM
are contradictory, but no matter of the partialities, it will not be
denied that the quality of their music product is very high. Their
experimental seekings are not fading their roots as godfathers and creators
of a whole gender in the extreme metal.
Their new
album reflects the whole wealth of their different periods. According the
concept from the last years Hexacosioihexekontahexaphobia begins with
experimental rock that is close to performers like UMBRA ET IMAGO and
LACRIMOSA. The singing in German language also leads the music in such
direction. As in a great part of the experimental German scene the hystery
and the aggressive guitars find their place in the songs. The escalation in
this direction turns into a trip to the roots that in track № 6 (I will
not quote the titles!!!) already had jumped on 100 % in dark metal. Track
№ 7 is this one, that turns us back in time and researches the depths
of the debut album of BETHLEHEM in its best tradition and darkest metal
seekings. This is the song, because of which the nostalgic fans would listen
to this album!
After that the
musicians take us from the past with
more post metal manner, without leaving completely the strong guitars. They lead
us thru funeral doom monotony (8), ambient stray (9). Among the frequent
acoustic guitar performances are implemented German folk influences (10, 12),
and neo-classical figures (11). With the final track the band again gave a
wink at the fans of the harder sound.
Long, diverse,
intellectual, and beautiful, the new album of BETHLEHEM should enrich every
discography. From the hard metal to the relaxing art rock – here you will
find a whole universe of subsistence.
