Carach Angren should be a household name for already many people as the band is well-known for its in-depth story-telling conceptual albums. Their musical style is shaped by intense cinematic and symphonic elements and black metal influences. The lyrics are also a very important element of the Dutch trio's sound. Overall, Carach Angren excel at arranging effective albums: The story is always well comprehensive even without reading the lyrics beforehand.
The band was able to create even more sinister sounding arrangements and lyrics with every new record: Their debut "Lammendam" revolves around the "ghost lady in a white dress". Two years later, Carach Angren released their second full-length "Death Came Through A Phantom Ship", which is based on the myth of "The Flying Dutchman". "Where The Corpses Sink Forever" released in 2012 is surely a highlight in the band's discography thanks to an excellently implemented war-ridden story containing references to World War I and II and the Vietnam War.
Nearly three years later, the Dutch trio is back with its fourth album "This Is No Fairytale", which tells the story of the fable "Hänsel and Gretel" in the most ominous way you have ever heard it. The new album sounds even darker and more theatrical than "Where The Corpses Sink Forever", therefore more diversified as well. Seregor's excellent vocals guide the listener through the story from the beginning to the end and the vocalist also figures different characters. At some point as the story approaches, you can expect to hear some pretty creepy parts, especially when the witch tries to attract Hänsel and Gretel into her house and also later on when she cages Hänsel to, well, cook and eat his flesh afterwards ... we all know the story ...
This record is full of highlights and shows off the three musicians' ability to bring the best out of them. "This Is No Fairytale" is a highly impressive record and will surely apply to fans of cinematic music, although I do find that "Where The Corpses Sink Forever" is Carach Angren's best release to date because of its brilliant concept and dynamics. If you choose to give "This Is No Fairytale" a go - and I advise you to do so - be prepared to be taken away to a suspense-packed journey full of horror and musical divinity.
