KAMPFESWUT Die Rückkehr des Barden CD

The 2023 album Die Rückkehr des Barden by the German project Kampfeswut, released through the French label Acid Vicious, is a compelling and rugged fusion of Raw Folk Black Metal and Blackened Punk. Serving as the project's second full-length effort, the record is the work of a solitary musician who delivers a sound described as Raw Teutonic Black Metal, characterized by its stark contrast between aggressive, lo-fi metal passages and contemplative acoustic moments. This release avoids the polished and symphonic tropes of mainstream folk metal, opting instead for a gritty, medieval atmosphere that feels both ancient and rebellious, blending the martial energy of the German underground with a dark, bardic spirit. The record consists of ten tracks that navigate themes of folklore, history, and the natural world, beginning with the thunderous Mit kräft'gem Donnerschlage and the biting Propaganda. Throughout the album, tracks such as Des Barden schwarzer Gesang, Ein närrisches Blutbad, and Sturm showcase the project's ability to shift from epic synthesizer atmospheres to driving, melodic riffs fronted by harsh, raspy vocals. The latter half of the record delves deeper into traditional themes with Barbarossa and Wir rufen deine Wölfe, before concluding with the somber Von Maden und Würmern. Issued as a professional three-panel digipak CD limited to 500 copies, Die Rückkehr des Barden solidified Kampfeswut’s reputation as a unique voice in the underground scene, successfully capturing the raw, unpolished soul of German black metal folklore.