“A roaring black metal abstraction that left me bewildered and wanting more.”
From German-born musician Rohgarr comes the debut release Less People, a roaring black metal abstraction that left me bewildered and wanting more.
At a runtime of just under thirty-two minutes, Less People took me on a ride that was as harrowing as it was cathartic. As I navigated the eight-track run, I found myself engrossed as it explored increasing frustration with the modern world, a yearning for a pagan way of life, and the resulting misanthropic feelings towards mankind. The straight-from-the-shoulder lyricism conjured up my deep-seated existentialism and made me yearn for a simpler, biophilic existence. Its roots in black metal were emphasised through punchy blast beats and a blunt, in-your-face vocal performance.
Rohgarr’s reclusive attitude is enhanced by his approach to the album’s production. An entirely solo effort, every aspect of Less People, from the lyricism to the production and recording, was crafted by the artist. While the rough-around-the-edges mixing can be difficult to get through at times, the resulting effect only seems to elevate the themes of isolation and rejection of modernism through a staunch anti-AI sentiment embedded deep in the core of the album, and certainly contributes to its authentic quality.
If you’re looking for something bleak, blunt and brutal to help you navigate the sense of doom brought about by the chaotic state society seems to fall deeper into with each passing day, I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy this release. All in all, Less People is a provocative but poignant debut project, and I am excited to see what Rohgarr will do next.
