Band:	Agrypnie
Album:	16[485]
Style:	Melodic black metal, Post-metal
Release date:	January 2010

01. Figur 109-3
02. Der Tote Trakt
03. Kadavergehorsam
04. Verfall
05. Schlaf
06. Zorn
07. F15.2
08. Morgen
09. 16[485] / Brücke Aus Glas [feat. Alboîn Goldmund]
10. Figur 109-1

At the moment, while 2010 is slowly reaching its end, having looked back it's even more noticeable that 2010 has been a poor year concerning black metal, many dissapointing releases, even more not worth mentioning, one country though, Germany, has managed to keep the banners of the genre at high peaks. Agrypnie, alongside Dark Fortress and Imperium Dekadenz, stand with utter pride with their third release to date, 16[485].

Despite its 73 minutes of duration which is apparently very long concerning black metal and may seem as if it would tire the listener, 16[485] is a pretty solid release filled with power, introvert moments, melody, even an epic sense of grandeur at times, never forgetting to preserve the sound aesthetics of the scene in its modern aspect. The main core of interest lies in the guitar work, the drumming and the vocals. René Schott's interpretation on drums & percussion is a raging beast that never fails to find its beautiful side whenever the tempo slows down and the atmosphere is being filtered through prisms of melancholy, or just grey colours, the choice is yours, it's almost the same to me.

Creative drumming that simply can't lose its course alongside lurking bass lines is the key to well-structured black metal with a production that compliments the compositions rather than ruin them. But this is just the tight foundation, the body has to be the guitars with their multifaceted expression ranging from static, fierce ideas to sharp railway riffing that tears the whole structure apart just to rebuild it in awe, with a heavier perspective at times and without forgetting to present melodious moments that adorn the overall soundscape with diversity. Well, the breath has to be the simplistic but spot-on keyboard lines that float whenever needed and entrance the ambiance and as for the soul of 16[485], Torsten's boiling shrieks are remarkable and set sail upon the instrumentation waves in the most appropriate way.

Fear not, 16[485] may be lengthy, it may consist of 10 compositions of which most of them surpass the seven minutes, yet it's far from being called monotonous and/or tiring, Agrypnie (lack of sleep or vigil in Hellenic language) managed to present one of the most fabulous black metal works for 2010. The light that slowly fades in the distance extends its hand, make sure it reaches your own.