DerHerold - 2025 - Arcanum I. Rage

(53:10; Fastball Music)

Track list:
1. Shuddap 3:40
2. Invitation 3:35
3. Fake 3:51
4. Just a Song 3:30
5. Fading Love 4:13
6. Rage Intro 0:59
7. Rage 3:35
8. Cruisin II 3:43
9. Illusion 3:45
10. Creeper 4:27
11. Stormbringer 3:50
12. Lover's Lip 3:19
13. Inferno 3:35
14. A Man 3:25
15. Relief 3:43

Line-up:
Olav Däumling - vocals
Seraina Schöpfer - vocals
Christoph Teuschel - guitars
Fred Jacobssen - bass
Sebastian Lanser - drums


Switzerland based project DerHerold is the creative vehicle of artist, composer and vocalist Olav Däumling, and while this venture didn't officially launch until 2024 it seems apparent that this is a creation that has been in development for quite some time. This spring the first in a series of three planned concept albums was released through German label Fastball Music. The name of this first chapter is "Arcanum I - Rage".

This is an artist that appear to have a great and passionate love for the music of the 1980s in general and heavy metal in particular. While the instrument sounds, mix and production applied to these landscapes have a striking contemporary feel to them, the melodies, structures and arrangements all look back in time. Traditional heavy metal of the kind that would not have come into existence without the influence of bands like Black Sabbath is a part of this landscape, and songs with a bit more of a hard rock flavor find their way into this album too. While a number of different artists may have been influential, as far as the more hard rock flavored aspects of this album goes I wouldn't be all that surprised if the composer has listened to more than a little bit of Alice Cooper over the years. We also get a charming flirt with the 80s post-punk sound along the way here, and a tasteful and brief spoken words over orchestral arrangements interlude.

Skilled hands have been employed to cater for the instrumental aspects of this album, and the creator himself has added flair and panache in an accompanying graphic novel as well as pages explaining the deeper parts of the concept explored. A lot of time and effort have gone into this creation, and I very much get the impression of this being a symbolic beloved child being given birth, with more children to be expected.

While the songs are generally well developed, well performed and often rather interesting in a charmingly modernized retro-oriented manner, there is one aspect of this whole experience that will be divisive. And the subject matter here are the male lead vocals. Däumling has opted for a more emotional and passionate mode of delivery, and at times strongly emphasizes this mode over having a more fine and melodic control. The impression I get is that this is an attempt at adding a more dramatic and theatrical flair to these creations, as in a good, old-fashioned rock opera, but his vocal style and voice will make this element a divisive one. In terms of vocals I'd say that his voice in general is somewhere on the halfway stage between Alice Cooper and Udo Dirkschneider as far as tone and timbre goes, but with less general control and without being as aware as those seasoned musicians are about the strengths and limitations of that kind of voice.

There is a lot to like and to appreciate about this album and this concept, but the vocals will, at least in my view, limit the overall appeal of this creation. But those who tend to be endeared by vocals that are more passionate and emotional in their delivery, generally fond of theatrical and dramatic vocal cues and also tend to enjoy 80s hard rock and heavy metal might want to give this one a listen.

Olav M. Björnsen, April 2025

Links:
https://derherold.ch/
https://www.fastball-music.com/