The Second World War has been a go-to subject for any Black Metal band worth their salt. Hell, Marduk has made a career of it over the years and they don’t show any signs of stopping. So it’s not a big surprise that German Black Metallers Endstille are back with DetoNation hammering home the adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; and since 2001’s demo Demon they have been consistent with every release. DetoNation is a fucking tank rolling across a battlefield, a literal carnival of destruction.
It all starts with a bang “New World Lethargy” is the blast fest that makes me happy. Endstille has this amazing guitar tone that is unique to them, it’s incredibly raw; discordant to a subtle degree. But what I love is the overall tempo of the songs.
One thing Endstille does well is going for the throat and then pulling back to a more restrained beating. This is evident in “Jericho Howls” and the tortured victim of “Tochnit Aleph” a slow burning effigy before eruption happens. There are so many great moments on DetoNation, album number nine if you’re keeping track, and even though Navigator will always remain my favorite Endstille album, DetoNation has some of the heaviest songs I’ve heard since 2009’s Verführer, with tracks like “Vigilante Justice” and the massive as fuck closer “Endstille (Weltkrieg)”, DetoNation shows them at the top of their game, using a scorched earth policy to get the most out of their Black Metal attack.
At the end of the day, as the smoke clears this is a top-tier release, worthy of your undivided attention. If you love your Black Metal bloody raw, if you think Marduk, Infernal War, and God Dethroned are bands you’d invite to a BBQ, you’d better be inviting Endstille, as well. So, what are you waiting for? Constant reader, go forth and purchase.
