Außerwelt - Breath - Metal Epidemic

Außerwelt – Breath
Release Date: 2nd October 2025
Label: Moment of Collapse Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Metal, Post-Black Metal.
FFO: Infesting Swarm, Au-Dessus, Amenra, Heretoir, Lantlôs, White Ward.
Review By: Mark Young

There are some releases that promise the earth in terms of, well, everything. I appreciate that the role of the bio/press release is to talk up the band or its album whether it’s a ‘blistering return to form’ or an ‘unbelievable debut’ and despite being a cynic you roll in with high expectations. Außerwelt and their debut release, Breath is clearly an exception, a release that does make good on these promises and IS a very, very good album that doesn’t stay in one lane.

And in doing so makes it difficult to review in some respects, because after a couple of tracks you’d find that I’m starting to repeat myself. Old Dreams Of The West is our starting point, and initially it sits within that post-metal category; relatively hard edged that leads into restraint, so far so normal. Then click – the blackened aspect comes sweeping into play, tonally changing everything in one swoop. On one side it’s charging forward and on the other a lead break that just plays out, simple but effective. It’s the way that it falls together that impresses and yes, it’s using what you might call a traditional sonic approach, but there is something in the way they do it. Considering that this is a DIY recording, it sounds incredible, and you hope that the remainder is as good as this.

Of course, it is, each song has its own share of chef’s kiss moments and that they manage to sustain this over the length of some of these songs is a testament to their ability. The arrangements they have chosen, the way that they have put these together is just top class. It’s like they have realised that they have a story to tell and as a result made a collection of songs that sit together as a cohesive whole, yet you can listen to these out of sequence, and they still hit with you, which for me is the mark of a great release. While The Ruins Still Linger is a great example of how they marry both sides of the extreme genre. At its heart is a continuing melody line that takes precedence over the black behind it. When this falls away, they replace it with what I class as a call to arms riff pattern (you will know exactly what I mean when you hear it). The use of cleans is tasteful and drops in at the right moment and doesn’t overstay its welcome. This has a mint descending riff whilst a trem picked line offers a counterpoint to it, and it’s that riff that is just class. Their closing statement, In The Night’s Coating, We Contemplate Hope is a whirling beast, it’s filled to the brim with ideas and energy. Tempo’s rise and fall, riffs become monolithic, harmonies pass by, and yet they make it sound organic with a flow that ensures the 8-minute track length passes in an instant.

I don’t have enough verbiage in the tank to give these songs the words they deserve, and it’s an album that you will return to again and again. The four members – Manuel Klein (Guitar, lead vocal), Kris Lucas (Drums, Piano, Cleans) Meredith Schmiedeskamp (Guitar) and Steffen Wolter (Bass) – deserve all the plaudits that should come their way because of this, and I’m excited to see what they do next after this. This has to be in contention for getting on AOTY lists (spoiler – it’s on mine) and while I’m still getting my head around the post-metal genre, if this is classed as being within that camp then I’d better start paying attention. Excellent stuff!!