Totengott: Doppelgänger

Always heavy, dark, bleak, and bold, this album is also at times frightening and experimental. The music is so heavy—and so dark—that it nearly overwhelms the senses. This album, the band's first, is a strong introduction to the band and a significant statement about the power of heavy music. Simply put, there's no posturing, no flashiness, just a commitment to heavy, raw, and powerful music.

Totengott began in 2014 as a tribute to Celtic Frost. As they gained a following, they began introducing original songs into their setlists which led to an even bigger following. It's easy to see why. The music captures raw musical energy and couples it with elements of thrash, ambient, and doom in ways that are both authentic and organic. I was especially fond of the track "Satan Beside You," largely because of its slow burn and bleak lyrics. Unlike other songs about evil, this one takes just about every self-defeating and awful thing people say to themselves (and others!) and repeats them often enough that they begin to transform. Listening to "Satan Beside You" reminded me of the magic and power of the blues, the way music can transform sadness and despair into hope. I don't want to overstate the point but this is no ordinary song about the devil.

Fans of Celtic Frost will obviously certainly feel at home with this one. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other influences, including Candlemass, Conan, Voivod, and early Pink Floyd. Ultimately, however, this is not just another draw from the deep well of influence. It's something more, a doom / death album that avoids cliché. My only complaint is that every track is longer than the last one, making this three-track album nearly 45 minutes long. Normally, I wouldn't complain. The music is certainly never boring but it is occasionally overwhelming. Nevertheless, if this album is a beast, its one worth reckoning with.

Track Listing:
1. Delusion of Negation
2. Satan Beside You
3. Doppelgänger

Added: July 28th 2017
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1674
Language: english

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