Ad Absurdum: A modern fairy tale

Once upon a time, there was a Unhold who considered himself the true tyrant of German black metal. He alone laid claim to Absurd, no one else should dare! And for a while, he was believed. The fans remembered that he had once been a great songwriter, and they expected more great things from him. A magnum opus that would powerfully reinforce his claim to the band! An Überalbum like no other!

But for a long time, nothing happened. The fans waited in vain. Absurd ceased to exist in all but name and Wolf, who once invited the Unhold to this band, decided to move on with a new band of his own – Der Tod und die Landsknechte. In the meantime his brother JFN, founding member of Absurd, decided to return to the band and reform it with a new line-up to bring it back to life.

For a long time, nothing happened. The fans waited in vain. Absurd ceased to exist in all but name.

Wolf agreed, but the Unhold was restless. He didn’t know what to do. For years of drug and pharmaceutical abuse had taken their toll and killed his creativity. He couldn’t even go back to his own band, Luror, because of that. But he didn’t want to admit this, so he rummaged through his drawer and found some very old recordings of himself. Additionally, he asked his old friend, the Schatten, for help. Schatten gave the Unhold even more songs that he had once written himself, and with that, the Unhold was able to piece together a small EP – “Grabgesang” – that he wanted to release under the name Absurd. He then split it into three different releases to make the most of it, and when he asked Wolf to help with session vocals on three songs, Wolf agreed for the old times sake. The Unhold was relieved, and the fans were satisfied. But the fans wanted more, finally a new album of Absurd! Yet, the Unhold made them wait again.

In the meantime, his nemesis JFN worked quietly on a new album after already playing some concerts with Absurd in the years before. The Unhold couldn’t believe it, hoping that Wolf, JFN’s brother, would stand by his side and confirm his claim to Absurd. It so happened that JFN was indeed able to record and release a new album: “Schwarze Bande”. The fans loved it, and Wolf was also thrilled.

It so happened that JFN was indeed able to record and release a new album: “Schwarze Bande”. The fans loved it, and Wolf was also thrilled.

Now the Unhold was desperate. He still couldn’t write a single song himself. He simply couldn’t do it anymore! But now he felt challenged, and in his distress, he released a ridiculous version of “Asgardsrei”, with which he intended to rewrite the history of Absurd and erase JFN and Wolf from it. Everyone found it abhorrent, and the fans turned away from the Unhold.

Now he had only one chance left: to counter with a new album of his own. But how was he supposed to do that? Then he remembered that he had been working on a new Wolfsmond album with his friend, Schatten, for many years, and Schatten had already written songs for it. Why not just take these songs and release them as an Absurd album? Who would notice the difference?

Unhold remembered that he had been working on a new Wolfsmond album with his friend, Schatten, for many years, and Schatten had already written songs for it. Why not just take these songs and release them as an Absurd album?

So he bought these songs from Schatten, recorded them, and played them for Wolf, expecting him to sing them. But Wolf refused: These are not Absurd songs at all! Where are the songs from Unhold himself, why doesn’t he write any if he insists that he and no one else must carry on with Absurd? Wolf dismissed this preposterous request at once, telling Unhold to get lost! Moreover, he believed that his brother JFN had the legitimate claim to Absurd anyway and had proven with his releases that he could carry on the band worthily. He wouldn’t do anything that could destroy the family bonds between the two. Unhold was furious! But what could he do now?

His scheming counselor Gelal, who had already helped him with “Grabgesang” and always wanted to profit from more Absurd releases being concocted by Unhold, believed that Unhold should release these recordings anyway. After all, he had already paid for the songs and recordings, and if he labeled it as Absurd, there would always be someone who would buy such a CD. But without Wolf? asked Unhold. Gelal reassured him: If from the beginning you keep quiet about who wrote the songs and can be heard on vocals, then maybe no questions will be asked. And if they are, it will probably be after the CD has already sold. Unhold liked this idea very much. Because under no circumstances did he want to be solely responsible for this CD, as his leftist friends from among the metalbros would be very angry with him. Like in the past, the Unhold would try to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. And so it happened…

Without Wolf? If from the beginning Unhold keeps quiet about who wrote the songs and can be heard on vocals, then maybe no questions will be asked.