Welcome back to Lunar Aurora week! Next up is the second in their accomplished list of acclaimed albums. Seelenfeuer is the most progressive album I have heard from Lunar Aurora thus far. Featuring even more keyboard theatrics, drumming tricks and twists, and foreboding German vocals than before, Seelenfeuer is just another consistent chapter in the phenomenal history of Lunar Aurora. Seelenfeuer definitely focuses on the “Lunar” aspect of their music. Many of the keyboard lines are extremely high pitched, so many times creating a space-like, trance inducing feel to it. This notion also comes hand in hand with the epic outlook of Seelenfeuer. There are several songs on the album that are amongst the longest in Lunar Aurora’s catalog. Many albums bear the same primal ferocity that makes Lunar Aurora such a beast yet at the same moment have the grandiose beauty that the keyboards and the riffs lay down under it all. The keyboards once again provide a wonderful tonality and grip on the music. It is as if the keyboards do the talking while the rhythm section acts as the podium and cards, bolstering the speaker into nearly an hour of ingenious communication.

After a few seconds of an intro, the album cascades into Mein Schattenbruder. Like all tracks on Lunar Aurora’s albums, the initial foray into the madness is as efficient and declarative as ever. This track shows drum progression that reminds me of everything from the maniac snare blasts of Flo Mounier, to the Euro Blasts I practice, all the way through even some of the beats used in Progressive Rock and Ska. Nathaniel does it all here on the skins. The song opens up with a high pitched keyboard melody descending upon the listener before a narrative riff and simplistic drums make way for blast beats and the reentry of the blackened wails of the keyboard. Vocals rush to the scene as if the Hoover Dam were crushed under the might of Seelenfeuer and sanguine water rushes into the valley, destroying every living thing in its path. The cymbal work on Seelenfeuer is impeccable, ride cymbals are used here more effectively and frequently. The keyboards are also more varied. Several tones and sounds are used in single songs, with the passages in Mein Schnattenbruder being especially melodic and progressive. Along with the drums playing an upbeat style at some portions and the guitars taking a backseat, certain sections of the album are very different to what many Lunar Aurora fans may be accustomed to. Lunar Aurora the amazing capability of producing extremely lengthy songs yet constantly keeping the listener enthralled. Just when the riffs might descend your peaking interest and the song might come to a halt, in comes a battery of blast beats and well wrought vocals, or another few lines of striking keyboard verses.

Seelenfeuer, of all albums I have listened to by Lunar Aurora, puts the least emphasis on the guitar. This is by no means a declaration that the guitars are shoddy. No, they are well written and paced. The riffs always provide a means to keep the drums and bass together. The three key components here feed off of each other as almost if these three tracks create a kind of perpetual motion only found in modes of nature. It is the mastery of each and every instrument and the concept of true Black Metal song crafting that make Lunar Aurora one of the finest bands in Black Metal history. Augen aus Nichts is the next track which continues the aura of the album. Spooky guitar tones enter the picture for only seconds before blast beats and that otherworldly high pitched chord line rings in to establish the mood once again.

Another unique aspect of Seelenfeuer are the acoustic passages. These come out of the woodwork and establish a moment of calm with soundly played guitar, once more evoking a different atmosphere. Something else that Lunar Aurora brings forth from their arsenal of talent to share with the listener, amongst an array of surreal musical representations. There really is no need to discuss every song on the album. Each one of them kill in their own unique way. Reviewing Lunar Aurora is one of the greatest challenges I have undertaken since I was hired at MR. There is no stoic music, no lack of creativity. The works of Lunar Aurora are possibly amongst the most difficult to describe in any genre of music. It is why I have endeavored to hunt for every album they have written. I firmly hope that Aran and company resume Lunar Aurora. If the band never surfaces again however, I know that the Cold Dimensions will continue to put out elite Black Metal, and that Lunar Aurora have done more than enough to cement themselves as a force in the annals of Black Metal history.