Info
- Band(s): Rauhnåcht
- Label(s): Antiq Records
- Release Format(s): CD
- Release Year: 2025
- Review Date: August 7, 2025
- Author(s): Consanguineus
Austrian multi-instrumentalist Stefan Traunmüller has been active in various musical projects since the mid-1990s. He is known for his work with Golden Dawn, Selenite, and as a member of the Alpine folk band Sturmpercht. Since 2010, however, he has mainly focused on his solo Pagan Black Metal project, Rauhnåcht, which now sees the release of its fifth full-length album.
I closely followed ‘Vorweltschweigen’ and ‘Urzeitgeist’, as well as the splits and EPs released in between — partly due to my close contact with the label behind Sturmpercht. Over time, however, Rauhnåcht gradually faded from my radar — until this new album crossed my path.
The surroundings of St. Koloman, Rauhnåcht’s place of origin, are dominated by the imposing Unterberg — a massive mountain that rises like a stone fortress on the border between Austria and Germany. From the small Alpine village, the giant is clearly visible, shrouded in ancient legends and folklore. According to local lore, Charlemagne rests within, awaiting his return, tended by dwarves known as the Unterberger Mandln, while ghosts, fairies, and witches roam the slopes. The Wild Hunt is also said to echo through the valleys. Plenty of material, then, for mysticism and musical inspiration.
This folklore is the main wellspring from which Rauhnåcht draws: the dramatic landscape of the Lower Austrian Alps, steeped in myth and legend, reverberates throughout all of his work.
Fittingly, the album cover features a Percht — a figure from Germanic mythology, particularly known in the Alpine regions of Austria and southern Germany. She is revered as a goddess or spirit of winter, guardian of spinning and weaving, and enforcer of social order. We’ve all seen the images from Austrian mountain villages: terrifying demon-like figures clad in wooden masks, sheepskins, and clanging cowbells, striking fear — especially into the hearts of children.
On this latest full-length, Rauhnåcht proves he hasn’t been idle. ‘Zwischenwelten’ is a varied album that blends elements from several corners of the genre. Particularly during the epic ‘Alleinsamkeit’, I was reminded of Bathory’s ‘Hammerheart’ era — though this version is filthier, rawer, and digs even deeper into the Alpine mire.
Across six tracks, Rauhnåcht immerses the listener in folklore, legend, and myth, wrapped in furious Pagan Black Metal with subtle folk elements dancing through the mix. Traunmüller’s shrieking vocals crown the whole with a grim, commanding presence, all within a remarkably well-produced soundscape.
With ‘Zwischenwelten’, Rauhnåcht firmly reaffirms his central position within Alpine Black Metal. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good dose of drama steeped in tradition.
Antiq Records
- Country: France
- Style: Black Metal, Pagan Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Bandcamp, Youtube
