It is very difficult to come across good music just randomly, but I did when I was on my music hunt, looking for something new and extraordinary lately. Amidst a sea of uninspired or outright painful releases that seemed to blend into each other in a blur of monotony, something different caught my attention. Something genuine.  This  hidden treasure was “Vraž​je bajke” (“Hellish Fairy Tales”), released in 2023 by the Slovenian black metal/dark ambient act Teufel.

The 24-minute long EP is pure experience and expands beyond  just a mere recording (yeah, I know you hear that often from reviewers, but when it’s true –  it’s true). The offerinng comprises three tracks influenced by the Slovenian folklore , rich in texture and atmosphere, followed by a single ambient track that stretches over ten minutes, closing the record in a haunting, almost spiritual calm. Listening to these songs  is like wandering into an ancient forest and stumbling upon a hidden rite that has been taking place for centuries.

While “Vraž​je bajke” cannot be boxed entirely within traditional black metal, its roots are clearly nourished by the genre’s spirit. What makes it stand out is the way it blends that blackened aura with dark ambient textures and folkloric instrumentation. The result is deeply atmospheric and evocative, more interested in casting a spell than following trends. There is no distortion-driven chaos – instead, there is more of a quiet passion, tension, and a kind of sacred stillness, representing dark and enchanting mantra.

The first song, “Črna Maša,” which means “Black Mass,” creates a certain atmosphere with its eerie and ominous beginning. The piece unfolds like a ceremonial invocation –  hypnotic and empowering.  What is striking is that despite the absence of harsh vocals, the voice of Etienne von Chelleri brings a ritualistic, almost liturgical depth to the songs. There is  intoxicated mysticism and a poetic descent into otherworldliness that is present here. It reminds me a lot  of  Urfaust, although not directly.

The final ambient piece stretches its limbs into a wide-open soundscape from bygone times, full of space and echoes, like walking alone through mist-covered mountains, acting as a quiet plunge into reflection or even reverence.

The folklore woven into the EP  is the lifeblood of the record. With authentic percussion, acoustic elements and haunting chants, “Vraž​je bajke” invokes the Slovenian darkest  spirits and creates a world that invites the listener to close their eyes and just escape for awhile. The forests are hick and alive, and the demons are more than just an analogy. A dark offering. A piece of folklore that breathes its life onto you. For those willing to step away from the predictable and into the unknown, “Vraž​je bajke” is a rare and rewarding discovery.

Listen to the album below: