Totenmond - TonbergUrtod

*=Staff's pick	Wurmerbarmend* Heroin* Angstbeisser Blutost* Samenroh - Wird Klein Leben Heidenfeuer Deine Leiche Im Schwarzen Kreis* Das Ewige Bluten -Faustrecht* Tonbergurtod - Kastrazion

Genre	Metal Core	Pazzer	Vocals
Tracks	10	Pazzer	Guitar
Runningtime	43 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Massacre Records	Senf	Bass
Release	27 June 2005	S.P. Senz	Drums
Country	Germany	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	---

The German stomp squad, Totenmond, have since the very beginning been a quite reliable source for really heavy tunes. Always straight forward, plain and simple without any musical hum bug. Totenmond have with a bit of hardcore and punk influences added to their stomping metal accomplished a very unique sound and style since their debut, Lichtbringer (1996).

TonbergUrtod is the groups' seventh album and once again the language for their message is spoken or screamed out in German. I don't know if it has to do with the choice of language or if it is Pazzer´s voice that makes their vocals so extremely good and mean. An association to for example Rammstein´s vocals seems only silly and would be a waste of time. German language at its best, just listen to the refrain in the opening track Wurmerbarmend. Back to the music then. It feels like the band has searched their roots and added more metal instead of simple noise on TonbergUrtod. Their unmistaken sound is still there and the same with the doses of anger that are spit out. Some songs are perhaps a bit slower than average this time, according to normal Totenmond standards.The heavy Heidenfeuer and the excellent Blutost are example of that. Another favourite must be the Das Ewige Bluten - Faustrecht, a nice one with elements of really good old school death metal.

The thing with Totenmond is that they aren't diverse in their way of playing. In fact they are perhaps to easy and simple some times, but at the same time that's one of many things that makes their music so special. As miserable as Neurosis, harder and meaner than Motörhead and more old school than Dismember. A quite ok album that pretty much lives up to my expectations, but a bit more speed and variety in the song writing wouldn't hurt. Good production and supreme vocals and if you'll get the opportunity to see this south german act live this summer, don't hesitate. Totenmond are good in the stereo, but I wonder if it isn't on stage they are as best.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
7	10	6

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Tim