It’s been a long time since we last heard from PESTNEBEL. Almost ten years, to be exact, apart from the split with CURSE OF BELIAL this January. And honestly, at some point, it felt like they might have disappeared for good. But now, out of the silence, they return with their new full-length “Verfall”, released at the end of May through Folter Records. For anyone who has followed this band since the early 2000s, nothing on this album will come as a shock. PESTNEBEL haven’t tried to reinvent themselves, and that’s actually a good thing. Instead, they’ve delivered a kind of “traditional” and raw Black Metal, rooted in the same mid-tempo gloom and darkness that has defined their sound since the beginning. By listening to it, “Verfall” feels like a continuation, not a restart or anything like that. It doesn’t chase trends or try to sound current. It just is what it is. The songs stick to that old school formula, surrounded by a certain German kind of tradition. And there’s a sense of familiarity in the way the minds behind the band work together. It feels more like a reunion than a new episode in the band’s history. Now, is “Verfall” going to blow anyone away? The album requires paying attention, staying close. It just operates on a different level. It’s not trying to impress, but it’s trying to speak its language and talk to you. You can feel that in every track. In the end, I think this album is made more for those who grew up with this kind of raw, unfashionable Black Metal sound. PESTNEBEL is just doing what they’ve always done. Playing their way. That ‘s it! “Verfall” it’s definitely a solid return from a band that clearly hasn’t forgotten where they come from. And for me, that’s more than enough. Check them out! www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063927991814, www.facebook.com/folterrecordsgermany