The scene is oppressive.
Thoughts are slow, sounds muffled and the room is a blurred black void.
The protagonist slowly feels their way through a dark corridor.
A corridor of uncertainty.
Then a flicker of awareness: The instinct that one is not alone.
Suddenly the haze is gone, senses snap back into the present.
The darkness hasn’t changed but it feels crowded now.
Close your eyes, you don’t need them in this place.
A gate opens. Step into the chamber.
You won’t close those doors again.
Your strength is fading.
Silence.
The room is changing, yet remains the same in its substance.
A storm of frequencies that pulls you into space.
Time accelerates.
At the very moment of getting used to it, it ends abruptly.
Now vibrations flood the room.
Low-frequency vibrations.
„Defensive Verteidigungsparameter zeigen kaum Wirkung.“
If I were to write a storyboard for the first song off Stewards of Eon, then it could perhaps read something like the above. But to be honest, the term “song” only really applies to the obvious appearance of the three sections of the record. Behind that term however there is actually something way more complex Kollektiv Raumordnung are presenting here. An immersive play in three parts. An audio drama.
I want to start with a reference: This record in its idea, its layout and arrangement, in the sum of its details strangely reminds me of works like Vom Nachteil, geboren zu sein or Die Hochzeit Von Himmel und Hölle of Kai Grehn, a director and producer of audio features and audio books. Where Grehn uses music by the likes of Bohren & Der Club of Gore or layers ambient textures and drone under passages of spoken word and poetry to create intensive atmospheres and stories, the Kollektiv relies on a heavier arsenal.
Whether it’s war metal with guitars distorted to the max, blast parts, sludge grooves, psytrance-like electronica, as well as ambient and drone, the instrumentation is always set in context with monologues, vocals and singing, sound effects, and dramatic twists. The material is performed in a way that is intense, immersive and also dramatically well thought out. Kollektiv Raumordnung has created something far beyond mere (metal)music. Like I said, think of it like a metal audio drama. On the surface, it’s not the individual elements but the way they’re arranged. The weighting and dependencies between parts are laid out in a manner that turns the record into an incredibly captivating listening experience. Despite its oppressive atmosphere and thematic depth, it remains surprisingly accessible if one is willing to spend around 33 minutes of attention to this.
There is no gatekeeping, no avant-garde attitude.
That’s one of the things that makes this record outstanding.
To go into musical specifics, I have to highlight the drumming on “Intersphereon Beacon”. Those details on the cymbals are crushing and played tight. Also the metallic, almost harsh sound of the crashes and the prominent mixing of the overheads fits the chaotic scene very well. The piece is a great introduction into what seems to be a world of grief, perhaps almost terror.
Or the last passages on “Schwere Gefechte an der Raumaußenwand”, a title as formidable as the track itself: A constant back and forth between musical extremes. Not to just be extreme, but to provide contrast in storytelling. At one point there is a wailing of undefined creatures in the background, which turns into a close-up recording of a panting face with closed eyes. Suddenly the eyes fly open, and the face screams. The insane and perhaps traumatised scream is broken by a sonic smash cut. In an instant, the listener is transported from personal horror to flying over a desolate, apocalyptic land, heading toward an eerie foreboding to the sound of soprano operatic singing. This part alone justifies every bit of social media hype!
The record is unusual. It is no easy metal listening and therefore will not be everyone’s cup of tea. But at the same time Stewards of Eon is an astonishing idea brought to life by a group of artists with a great sense of storytelling and commitment to detail.
Easily one of the top 5 releases of this year.
To round it up, the facts about the art project that Kollektiv Raumordnung is, are no less interesting: More than 20 artists have contributed to this release. From Photo- and Videography, Illustration and Costume Design, to playing Guitars, Drums, Trumpets, Flutes and Synths, ending in recording, producing, mixing and mastering, Stewards of Eon is the result of a combined effort over four years of time.
Want more?
- The record is released worldwide via four different labels.
- The vinyl includes a prologue graphic novel to suck one into the lore even more. Right now I am waiting to get my copy of this graphic novel to see how wrong I have been with my earlier visualisation of what I have heard on the record.
- The whole project is laid out as a twin entity of fellow doom / sludge / drone band EREMIT. And it seems at some point both of those stories will come to a point where they transcend into an even bigger realm.
The mastermind behind all of this, Moritz Fabian, has outdone himself, showcasing what can be done in underground extreme art forms.
Kudos to him. Kudos to Kollektiv Raumordnung.
| Band | Kollektiv Raumordnung |
| Record | Stewards of Eon |
| Release date | 05. December 2025 |
| Labels | Drei Gleichen FUCKING KILL RECORDS Cultkill Music FIADH Production |
| Links | Instagram Bandcamp |