Schacht-Abwarts

Artist: Schacht

CD Title Abwarts

Label - Schachtmatt

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 4-11-11

Schacht is a German industrial metal project. Their album, “Abwarts,” is twelve tracks of industrial metal that fuzes droning classically-influenced sung parts as well as death-metal and black metal influences. “Schacht” deftly mixes its electronic elements into songs which are unrelentingly heavy.

The album opens with the title track “Abwarts,” the song is guitar-heavy and dark. “Tanz” has a definite black metal influence with blast beats and screamed vocals. “Schacht” opens with a classically influenced vocal line, and has grinding guitars. “Kasten” features a hauntingly melodic chorus. “Mashine” is dark and unrelenting. “Ratten” is plodding and guitar-driven. “Strand” features some delicately picked acoustic guitars and droning melody, even string embellishments. “Tropfstein” is slow and brooding. The album closes with “Unten” which is a droning minimalist soundscape.

For fans of somewhat theatrical industrial metal, Abwarts fits the bill. The twelve songs here draw from some very disparate influences. The end result is one very heavy album.

Take a listen to Schacht, watch their video: