Richtfeuer

16.6.2023

With “Richtfeuer“ RANĂ returns at full force in collaboration with Breath Sun Bone Blood with their second full length album. The album’s title “Richtfeuer” translates to “Leading Fire” or “Beacon”, and that is exactly what this album does…. Leads us into the burning down of this world with the hope of building a better one.

Four tracks of raging black metal punctuated with elements of blackened crust, chanted atmospheres, and mournfully oppressive doom, laced with melancholic guitar themes and vocal desperation.

Starting with the devastating and crushing power of the 11 minute opener “Läutern”, RANĂ sets the course for the coming 40 minute despair riddled assault. “Flamura”, the second track sets the tone with a more d-beat blackened crust tone which quickly deteriorates into furious blast beats. Desperation and urgency creating a feeling of relentless anxiety.

The third track “Richtfeuer” opens with chanted vocals and mournful picked guitars that devolve into slabs of doom thrown at the listener, with heartbreaking melodic lines supported and then obliterated by black buzz.

“Our Smouldering Grief / Im Brand”, the album’s final chapter (the first half also appeared on 2022’s “Black Metal Rainbows” Compilation) features melancholic guitar lines weaving in and out of hope and despair. Between life and death. The second half of the closing aural assault, “Im Brand”, leaves the listener in a pile of ash and rubble, tripping over the remnants of the world and frameworks this album wishes to destroy.

And deeply ingrained in the gut-wrenching grief of this album is a hopeless call to arms. A futile attempt to strive and rebel to find a crack in the circle. And to find solace in potentially failing in the process, only to rise again, burning. Beautiful. Utterly brutal. Antifascist Black Metal.

Rană on this record are:
Drums: Eric, Bass: Tobi, Guitars: Julian / Basti, Vocals: Andi / Basti

Recorded, Mixed, Mastered at Sunsetter Studios Spring 2022
Additional Guitarproduction/Backing Vocals: Fabian Schulz (Sunsetter)