Neun Welten - Destrunken
Auerbach Tonträger
Neofolk
10 songs (55:35)
Release year: 2009
Neun Welten, Auerbach Tonträger
Reviewed by Goat

German Folk collective Neun Welten here present their follow-up to 2006's excellent Vergessene Pfade, and as with that reflective and emotional mini-masterpiece there is a great deal to say in Destrunken's favour. Far from the Folk Metal world, Neun Welten are an acoustic group consisting of guitar, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion, with occasional vocals, and where some bands play the sort of Folk that makes you want to get up and dance, these guys are the opposite. This is strictly sit-by-the-fire-and-reflect sort of stuff, and if ever you've found yourself sitting alone in a pensive mood then this is the perfect soundtrack. Mostly the music flows smoothly, instruments entering and leaving in a performance playing to all the musicians' strengths, but every so often a violent explosion occurs as in Destrunken II, where the passion kept under control leaps free and stuns you with intensity.

Sure, there are shades of Prog Rock here and there, but the primary focus is on the Folk, and if you appreciate music at all then Destrunken will very likely enthral you as much as it does me. This is simply beautiful, eerie and emotional music that carries you away with it like the best ambient does, although there is generally enough going on for Neun Welten to not fit that label. Moments like the mournful strings of Ewig Ruh are balanced with the female yelps and drums of Dämmerung and the wistful male vocals of Der Stille See - this really isn't an album that you can fully fathom on the first listen. It's an album that you can come back to again and again, hearing something different each time, and whilst obviously those who appreciate the folkier side of music, the Drudkh and Agalloch fans out there, will have most to gain from an album of this sort, there's much that should appeal to everyone. This is far more immediately enjoyable than, say, Drudkh's Songs Of Grief And Solitude - Neun Welten's assuredness is more than obvious, and they seem to have more to say, as well. The sad truth is that Destrunken is something of a niche release that will be heard by fewer people than it deserves - if you enjoy the Folky aspects of Folk Metal, or enjoy music that leans towards the melancholic, then Neun Welten are more than worthy of your time. The band have made two excellent albums; long may they continue to do so.

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Album as a whole
Goat quoted 85 / 100
Other albums by Neun Welten that we have reviewed:
Neun Welten - Vergessene Pfade reviewed by Goat and quoted 87 / 100
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There are 3 replies to this review. Last one on Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:44 pm
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