Review by Michael on August 30, 2026.

After having released “Alptraumgänger,” Bavarian Schrat had another one up their sleeve to release on Folter Records. “Seelenfresser” (which could be translated as “Soul Devourer”) was the second and last release on the German label, and after that, the band split up.

Kicking off with a really unpleasant and disturbing intro, the guys perform harsher black metal than on its predecessor. This sounds really raw and hateful, and also slightly chaotic. But of course, this is some sort of good quality in black metal. Often they sound like a faster version of Mysticum in a certain way, especially when it comes to the distorted guitars.

“Seelenfresser” is a super-fast album without any slow parts and probably not easy listening. The vocals are high-pitched and somehow wrapped in the instruments, and sometimes vocalist Gråin uses some deeper chanting, similar to Attila on “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,” to create a slightly creepy, gloomy atmosphere (“Terrorkabinett – Gaias Wort”). Some chimes underline this atmosphere here as well. This track might be a good representative if an alien were to ask you what black metal is. Raw, ugly, and unpleasant, just like this song.

Continuing with “Kadavertotem,” the guys even top the previous song with their unstoppable ferocity. Not that the song structures themselves are too bulky or complicated, but the simplicity and, if one can talk about a certain catchiness, are quite impressive.

Here and there, you can hear some more punkish riffing and drumming, like in “Chaosbomber – Kenaz,” especially if you listen carefully at the beginning of the song. But okay, this is where black metal also originates from, apart from thrash, death, and heavy metal, so why not?

“Dornenhagel – Gaias Folter” and “Nekromant – Isa” are the longest songs on “Seelenfresser.” The first one has a slightly slower pace than the rest and sounds a lot like a Norwegian melodic black metal song from the mid-’90s if it weren’t for those super-grim vocals.

The second one is much faster, much colder, and appears like a blizzard out of nowhere. It’s frosty like the scene on Hoth where Luke Skywalker has to gut his tauntaun to keep himself warm. Okay, this might be a better metaphor for a Cannibal Corpse album, maybe.

“Blutmondritus,” by the way, is another great track with more of an industrial metal touch. Be it the drumming or the guitars, it reminds me a lot of good old Mysticum.

So, it’s time to close the chapter on “Schrat” with “Baphomet.” Kicking off like a Celtic Frost song, this one once again turns into a hellish machine-gun-fire dance. Again, there are a lot of punk vibes in the drums, and it is not too complicated, but this is the way “Seelenfresser” actually works. And it works quite well. This album is a very entertaining, hateful work by some crazy maniacs.

And sometimes music reflects the spirit of the people who compose it. Unfortunately, and maybe predictably if you listen to their music, their vocalist had some personal issues that laid the band to rest. For how long? Nobody knows. Maybe time will tell.

Until then, enjoy “Seelenfresser.”

Rating: 8 out of 10