Here is a list of all the releases to date from Aardtmann op Vuurtopberg. Please click on the songs to download them (or right-click and then choose 'save target as'). You can click the CD-cover for a larger version. Inlay for 'De Berg van Verdoemenis' coming soon...
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Title: De Berg van Verdoemenis*
Year: 2004 Tracklist: 1. Entering Enthralling Ether 2. Distant Views of Monolithic Images 3. Æons of Æsthetic Æries (Ærobic Ægis) 4. Enchanting Grey Landscapes 5. My Throne, Looking over the Kingdom of DOOM Total Time: 34:47 6. Rundgang um die transzendentale Säule der Singularität (Bonus, Burzum Cover)
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*"De Berg van Verdoemenis" was improvised and recorded in a 45 minute Droning session in DoodSpoor Studio in Enschede, the Netherlands.
Insignium asked us a couple of questions (after the release of 'De Berg van Verdoemenis'), Aardtmann M. answers them all here.
Reviews for 'De Berg van Verdoemenis'
A Grimmer Wizard
Author: Insignium
Link: The Metal Archives
Rating: 88%
Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg has obviously had a huge impact on these doomsters. Just the name itself makes that apparent. While Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg means Troll-man/Sorcerer Of Firetopmountain, The two aardtmen isn't far off. Aardtmann means Goblin and Vuurtopberg means Firetopmountain. Together Aardtmann Op Vuurtopberg means Goblin on Firetopmountain and thus makes a perfect tribute name. While the troll is the king of the forest, the goblin is his servant. The quality of the recording does not give an impression of being inferior though. Actually the quality on overall is quite high on this CD. And the best part? That must be the fact that they distribute the CD for free. It's not everyday that you get a high quality album and won't have to pay a penny for it. The music has the same thoughtful yet grim consistancy of Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg with the sad keyboard accompanied by low tuned bass. The dark grimnity they produce is not entirely alike though fans of Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg most certainly will approve of this demo. While Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg uses a deep brooding bass, Aardtmann Op Vuurtopberg uses a raspier, more harsh bass. Another major difference is that the keyboard on each track is exactly the same. In the beginning this makes the tracks hard to differ from eachother. But it must be admitted that the deep and eternal wanderings of the music does fit to flow aimlessly from one end of the demo to the other. The demo was fittingly named both to the sound and to their tributed masters. De Berg Van Verdoemenis means The Mountain Of Damnation. Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg has a track called The Decent From The Mountain Of Madness, which the name of the demo has obviously been derived from. It must be said that The Decent From The Mountains Of Madness would also be the one track from Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg that resembles most closely the dusky and harsly grim aura that lingers over the demo. As a single negative statement I must admit I do miss the vocals which Aardtmann Op Vuurtopberg lacks. Trollmann Av Ildtoppberg has already stated that they were honored to have Aardmann Op Vuurtopberg as a tribute band of theirs, and even though Aardtmann Op Vuurtopberg has a flaw or two, they have shure made a worthy release.
Interpretation of the tracks:
-Entering Enthralling Ether: The name alone describes the enchantingly grim music that flows over the track. It is the smoothest and most confortable keyboard on any of the tracks on the demo, but the crunshing bass is wandering in the thypical raspy paleness that it wanders the rest of the album with. The most identifying trait of the track is a little calm jump that the keyboard does sometimes. The track in overall gives a good impression on how it must be in the calm times on the Mountain of Damnation. Pretty sad, empty, bleak... It is tough and painful existance with plenty of room to wallow in regrets and misery. Even if ambers glow atop here, they only glow pale white light.
-Distant Views Of Monolithic Images: An interresting name for a track which takes a second glance to understand. A distant view could mean a view far into the past or into something beyond reach. A monolithic image would in such cases either be a dominating memory or a dominating longing. The keyboard moves slowly and varies between high tones that look towards the sky, and the low ones that stare deeply into the ground. Even the bass sometimes tilt upwards, just to fall heavily down again with dispair. The whole track sounds as to long for something, while it yet sits left with a constant lingering sorrow. Whatever the images are their longing also yields depressive and grim thoughts.
-Æons Of Æstethic Æries (Ærobic Ægis): Is only close to two minutes long and thus the shortest of the tracks. Yet it is more different to the rest than they are to eachother. The keyboard is not present here. The bass has to do the melody as well as the grimnity. In the background is a metallic sound of lava boiling. The name of the track describes it as a wast beutiful and soaring eternity, which within has the feeling of protection. Without the keyboards to depress the mood of the track, it does feel more serene and safe. Yet, as always, the grimnity is not gone. Æries is the nest of a bird of prey. Something is not as pleasant and harmless as it seems. We are still atop the Mountain of Damnation.
-Enchanting Grey Landscapes: Is hard to differ from Distant Views Of Monolithic Images unless one really listens carefully. One of the major differences is the slowly pulsating keyboard which gives the track a disturbing edge. Also for the first time the keyboards use more then one note at the time, but only on a race occasion. The lingering pulse on one note alone can last for over half a minute. Sadness drips from this drack with shivers following. The landscape surrounding the Mountain of Damnation is obviously as grey and lifeless as the mountain itself. Wast, bleak and grim like a black and white horror movie. Not only is there no hope atop the mountain, but there is none in sight either.
-My Throne, Looking Over The Kingdom Of DOOM: Has no doubt gotten it's name from Trollmann Av Ildtoppbergs track Forest Of DOOM. It sees a keyboard that sounds more like a church organ, which dwells further into the background than earlier. The bass has been more distorted and much grimmer, sometimes even taking a row of pleading whines. The track is longer and more silent than any of the other, drving forth a prolonged feeling of sadness. The throne atop the damned mountain has a wast view over the whole doomed kingdom. Nothing but bleak uglyness and grey land can be seen. Atop the throne sits the aardtmann. From here he can watch the truly depressed grimnity which he rules.
Contact: aardtmann@hotmail.com