Band of the week 42/2025
Origin: Zurich, Switzerland
Genre: Black Metal
Hier geht’s zur deutschen Version.
The band about themselves:
During a series of hideous and decrepit woodland rituals, Ungfell was spawned from the mouth of madness in 2014 by Menetekel, who remains the dominant force within the band. 2015 saw the release of the band’s demo, aptly titled „Demo(lition)“, a raw and furious recording. Assisted by Infermità on drums and showcasing a sound accentuated by an array of folk instrumentation.
Retreating to the helvetic woodlands (and most likely utter delirium) in 2016, Ungfell yet again sprang forth from the shadows in 2017, unleashing its debut full-length, „Tôtbringære“, in February of that year through Graceless Recordings. Having taken the sound established on „Demo(lition)“ and further delving into the band’s helvetic underpinnings through lyrical themes and sound, the band managed to create a truly rabid work.
Leaving naught but a year for listeners to digest the fury that was „Tôtbringære“, Ungfell moved from strength to strength and released its sophomore full-length „Mythen, Mären, Pestilenz“ in the Spring of 2018 through Eisenwald Tonschmiede. Having replaced Infermità with Vâlant on drums, the release showed a particular focus on songwriting and aggression in performance, without sacrificing the intricacies that made Ungfell easily distinguishable from other acts. „Mythen, Mären, Pestilenz“ revealed an unbridled fury and directness that was further enhanced by a more direct and massive approach to production.
Ungfell is affiliated with the Helvetic Underground Committee.
Editorial commentary:
My second favourite Swiss cultural asset are the works of Ungfell, surpassed only by the dramas, paintings and theoretical musings of Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
Consequently, I enjoy spreading the good news of their existence (Ungfell as well as Dürrenmatt’s works beyond the Physiker and Besuch der alten Dame) and am delighted to see an increasing number of related merchandise sightings at concerts and festivals (Ungfell, but no Dürrenmatt, yet).
Ungfell are distinctive enough to stand out from generic black metal, but they have everything it takes to be interested in multiple ways.
If you like folkloric topics, supported by regional dialects, such as with Bavarian Bands Gràb or, to some extent, Lunar Aurora, you will probably get your money’s worth with Ungfell. As will fans of the musical characteristics of French black metal bands. But despite these parallels (drawn for illustrative purposes), the band has more than enough originality to stand on its own and make a lasting impression in their own way.
Ungfell is neither a dull reproduction of conventions, nor a desperate attempt to be ‘niche’ at all costs. Instead, they deliver authentic musical eccentricity, in which Mythen, Mären, Pestilenz (Myths, Tales, Pestilence) is not only an album title, but also a motto in terms of content and mood, packaged in a very unique soundscape of occasional productive irritation, mixed with specific peculiarity and catchiness, that is never superficial, but still often manages to have a fascinating lightness.
Since the band does not seem to perform live, there is unfortunately no opportunity to experience their music this way. Therefore, I can only strongly recommend giving them a listen.
The most “professional” sounding album is their latest, De Ghörnt, from 2024.
As an introduction, especially for fans of the French black metal school and in particular for those who kind of like the guitars and vocals of early KPN, I’d specifially recommend starting with Demo(lition), the aforementioned Mythen, Mären, Pestilenz (2018), where the songs alternate with folkloric-medieval instrumental interludes, or Tôtbringære (2017).
The band at Dark-Art:
Music recommendation:
Links:
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Band of the week is our weekly posting about a band we recommend and is posted every Tuesday at 8pm (CEST). These are bands that are just at the beginning of their career and that we think should receive more attention.
You can also find all the bands we’ve featured this year in our playlist on Spotify!
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