DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT (which means ‘the way of a freedom’ in German) is black metal band having released three albums in total with the most recent one, “Stellar”, premiering this year.

Before I proceed in reviewing the album, it has to be pointed out that this quartet from Germany has a distinct way and taste in their compositions – most of their songs are invigorating like a breeze on a warm day. There is nothing surprising per se but their highly melodic riffs which are emotional but fierce and thoroughly ‘calculated’.

“Stellar” is another example of how well this band can turn a grim art such as black metal into melodic emotional soundscapes. “Repulsion” is the first song of the album entering quietly but the clean vocals are soon replaced by growls and the pace is set by blast beats instead of low drumming. “Einkehr” is fairly melancholic; “Verbund” is the shortest and ruthlessly aggressive song on “Stellar” and “Eiswanderer” is a happily expected song to be composed and performed by DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT – sharp, artful and above all ‘black-metal-loyal’.

As far as the bonus tracks are concerned, “Idyll” is an instrumental piece characterized by a distant but atmospheric notion. Closing up, “Unendlich” is the most post-black metal-like song of the album; the nearly sad vocals are astonishing adding to the dream-like melodies that give a conclusion utterly becoming of the 53-minute “Stellar” ride.

Generally, a very homogeneous, whole in its structure and mature enough to be a proud successor of “Unstille”. “Stellar” is stellar; a high quality listen that fans of the genre should not miss out on.

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