BIsmut - Ausdauer (Album Review)

Release Date: October 20th 2023. Record Label: Lay Bare Recordings and Spinda Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Ausdauer - Tracklisting

1. Mendalir

2. 不安 (Fuan)

3. Despotisme

4. Mašta

5. Euphoria

Members

Nik Linders - guitar

Huibert der Weduwen - bass guitar

Peter Dragt - drums

Review

Dutch trio Bismut from Nijmegen has been around since 2016 but they are a brand new acquaintance to me as they unveil their third full-length 'Ausdauer'. Personally, instrumental music, when done with some thought and purpose, is very rewarding in so many ways. Simply being an instrumental band however does not mean you're great but that's definitely not a concern for Bismut. Nik, Huibert and Peter are not only brilliant musicians and song creators, they also know how to make their music speak without words. And that's something which requires talent.

After a lurking beginning, opener 'Mendalir' gradually moves faster and heavier only to revert to a more mellow setting for Nik's wonderful solos. Midway through they unleash a faster pace taking the song to eruption leaving you in a reborn state of mind. '不安 (Fuan)' has a sinister anxiety fuelled undertone while moving in a dreamlike state. Starts in mid-tempo but builds up gradually. The latter part brings in fusion-like elements manifesting the sinister feel. 'Despotisme' is the rocker on 'Ausdauer' although everything is relative. However, when Bismut throws off the shackles they tear it up. In between, 'Despotisme' is trippy and suggestive in the best possible way.

'Mašta' is a trip of the mind as Bismut really perform for the senses. Just close your eyes and let the band work their magic on you. This composition, like the entire album, allows your imagination to run free and that's the beauty of instrumental music. The last song is 'Euphoria' and it is more upbeat and elated as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Slows down very nicely in the middle before the band cranks it up in that wonderful way they do it.

I love it when albums come my way by bands I've never heard of yet they have been around for a while. Personally the joy to discover there's still greatness within music is bar to none. Not only does it restore my faith in an oversaturated world of music but I also get to backtrack these bands, of which Bismut definitely is one! Whatever your taste in music is, check out these Dutch giants, you won't regret it because Bismut's music crosses borders, in fact they erase borders and are omnipresent. Brilliant stuff!

Words by Hâkan Nyman

Ausdauer will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Lay Bare Recordings and Spinda Records from October 20th 2023.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

BISMUT - Schwerpunkt (Album Review)

Release date: November 26th 2018. Label: Lay Bare Recordings (Vinyl Only). Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Schwerpunkt – Tracklisting

1.Borgerskapet 13:49

2.Stórborg

3.Gewapende Magte

4.Czar

Members

Huibert - bass

Peter - Drums

Nik - guitar

Review

BISMUT debut album – Schwerpunkt – is a mixture of many different styles such as Prog Rock, Doom, Desert Rock, Stoner, Jazz, Psych and Hard Rock. I was expecting this album to your usual run-of-the-mill instrumental rock album. I was pleasantly surprised to see the band exploring many different musical avenues and making actual bold decisions with their music.

The first thing that stands out with BISMUT’s music is how complex the whole album actually sounds whilst still offering the listener a high amount of epic riffs. BISMUT are a highly talented power-trio and they incorporate that classic style of sound throughout the album. Schwerpunkt can be quite progressive and very surreal at times with the band opting for a heavier and distorted psychedelic sound.

Opening song – Borgerskapet – is a fourteen minute epic that sees BISMUT playing a different style of Psychedelic blend of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Rock. It may take a few minutes to fully get used to BISMUT style of music. As it’s quite different to other instrumental rock/metal bands. The sound is very organic and quite a dominant feel. It’s quite cold and calculating in places but the band still manage to create an exciting atmosphere that allows their music to be played naturally.

Second song – Stórborg – opens with a more psychedelic and ambient approach though with heavier strands of Sludge Rock slowly making a confident appearance. The Post-Rock/Post-Metal interludes interact superbly well with the Stoner based riffs as BISMUT change their overall sound to one of sonic experimentation. The production once again is very raw and maybe could have done with more volume being added to the overall mix. Though I did enjoy the overall bleakness of the actual album and that’s perhaps down to the production contained on the album.

Gewapende-Magte – carries on the bleak and heavy progressive themes of the previous track as BISMUT offer a more jazz orientated sound. The distorted and almost industrial delivery of the song allows the band to play a heavier and heartfelt sound. The song takes time in fully get going but this song perhaps contains the heaviest moments on the album.

The final song – Czar – has a more fast-paced approach but still maintaining the other’s tracks industrial based post-rock delivery. The album ends on a highly satisfying conclusion with BISMUT pulling out all of the stops in playing more complex sounding music that’s very hard to define or categorize at times.

Schwerpunkt is not your standard Instrumental Rock/Metal album and nor should it be. With a high amount of instrumental rock/metal bands releasing similar sounding albums, it’s good to hear a band releasing something different and genuinely exciting at the same time. Overall, Schwerpunkt is a well-made and thought-provoking album that is perhaps suited to the more adventurous Instrumental Rock/Metal fan.

Words by Steve Howe

Schwerpunkt will be available to buy on CD/DD from the band and Vinyl via Lay Bare Recordings from November 26^th 2018.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp