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There are at least three bands that call Them self's Naglfar, but I have only heard this Swedish band. They play melodic black metal in nice way. They dont make it difficult, they just do what they are good at. Not more or less. And Jens Rydén´s voice is incredible! It´s sounding a bit like Dani from Cradle of Filth.
The music is very melodic, mid paced, but sometimes it blasts of in hell-speed. And they managed to play both kind of it. The lyrics are nothing to be shocked over: ordinary dark lyrics. Nothing to remember.....
It is a album over average. And I will follow this group closely.
Ranking: 7 / 10
NAGLFAR
Diabolical
The follower to "Vittra", and the sound and music have changed a little. The songs are more brutal and faster, but the nice guitar melodies are still there. The production is cleaner and better also.
I had some trouble with this record at first, but it kept growing and it became better and better after every listening. "Vittra" was "easy" from the very beginning.
But I dont think that their second album reaches up to the same level as "Vittra". But it´s not far......
Ranking: 6 / 10
NAGLFAR
Ex Inferis
It was a while since we heard from Naglfar, and I thought for a moment that they locked thier evil inside a closet or something. But no. Naglfar returns once again. This time with a mini CD called "Ex Inferis". The only problem with this, except for the fact that it is a mini CD, is that there are only two (2) new songs. The rest are just re-recordings of old songs. So it's pretty hard to make a review of just two new Naglfar songs. And since one of them are a cover (i think), we just forget this whole mini CD and wait for the full-length album instead....
Ranking: - / 10
NAGLFAR
Sheol
And here it is finally. It was a couple of years ago since we heard from Swedish
Naglfar, except from the mini-CD "Ex Inferis", which was released
early 2003.
So, after so many years Naglfar must have changed their sound a lot? Or? No,
this album is the follower of "Diabolical" and not much differ these
two albums from each other. The only development I have heard from Naglfar is
the step between "Vittra" and "Diabolical". That was a huge
step. This time the step is smaller, but of course; there are some changes here
and there. For example, there are more keyboards involved. And the song "Of
Gorgons Spawned Through Witchcraft" sounds like a Dimmu Borgir song from
the "Spiritual Black Dimensions"-era....
Okay, Naglfar delivers no surprises, but even if they don't do that, this album is a killer anyway. Just listen to the opening song "I am Vengeance"..... That's melodic black metal at its best. That's the best got damn song in this kind of style I've heard since.....since a while....
Overall: at nice album, clearly above average. Naglfar truly belongs to the elite, besides Dimmu Borgir. But it feels like they burn there best songs in the beginning of the album. It's not so much left in the end. And the album is just a bit over 40 minutes.....
Ranking: 6 / 10
The city Örebro in Sweden have produced many metal bands the last couple of years. Some bad ones and some greater ones. Nasum belong to the later ones. With a furious speed they will truly run you over. I dare to say that Nasum have developed Swedish grind milestones from where the scene stood a couple of years ago. This is their third album, and I must admit that this is the first time I really try to listen to a whole album. I have heard some songs here and there from their previous albums. And I must admit that I am not a huge fan of grind, so maybe I'm the wrong man to write a review.... But who cares. It might be interesting to read a review from someone who are new in this game?
My first impression of "Helvete" was: "If they will keep this speed all the way through the album, I will never reach the end...". I mean, supersonic speed is great, but a whole album with such speed is just boring (which is a mistake some death metal bands makes). Fortunately, Nasum vary their music sometimes, but most of the they reach diabolical speed. Impressing. But boring after a couple of songs. But what saves this album is that the songs are short (2 min, and sometimes shorter), and in those short songs they manage to both grind, play some heavy riffs, sample some voices and scream. That's why I after all like this album. And the supersonic journey aren't just fast; often there are some kind of melodies in it. Conclusion: Nasum knows how to make a great grind album! But I am not sure if I will explore more from the grind scene. Nasum and "Helvete" are just fine to me....
"Fatta ru, ta inte dethär personligt, men du ä så jävla dumihuvet. Du ä så jävla lurad!" (Just another hog)
Ranking: 6 / 10
This is one of these bands that offers something unusual. Something different.
And sometimes it's great to listen to something that not sounds like everything
else, which is pretty common these days. Everybody who are into Neurosis knows
that these guys have released records for over ten years now, so their music
are not news to the world, even if it is to me. But if a band plays "different
and weird" music, there are no promises that it will be good music. No,
the music still have to offer some well known marks so you can feel safe and
secure. Neurosis offers that kind of music: it's different but still you can
let your mind go. You don't have to think, it's nothing that will occupy your
brain for the next two days or something. It's still music....in a different
way.
Neurosis mix, as I hear it, heavy metal, industrial and progressive rock with
an aggressive touch. The vocalists screams their words out with, as it sounds,
a lot of pain and regret. I have the feeling that every line of words were written
with a certain feeling. At least it sounds like that when they sing it. There
are also something sad about the music itself; the riffs are not happy ones,
the drums are pretty slow and every beat are so heavy and so cold, that you
will see for your self the drummer as half-dead sitting behind the drumset...
The highlight on this album are "End of Harvest". That song is one
of the better ones I ever heard. Yes, that true. With an extreme high volume
that song will tear you apart. Twice.
Ranking: 7 / 10
NEUROSIS
The Eye Of Every Storm
"A Sun That Never Sets" was the great breakthrough for Neurosis. With that album they reached a much bigger audience than ever before. "A Sun..." wasn't as violent as "Times of Grace" and earlier albums. The sound was restrained and those outburst of rage weren't as frequent as before. Neurosis showed a somewhat "softer" side. That's why that album became such a success. Well, the word success within the metal and alternative scene isn't the same word as within the popularmusic scene...
"The Eye Of Every Storm" is even more softer. The rage is all gone
and the atmosphere is
dreamlike and quite. Only a few songs are songs that could fit on "A Sun..."
or "Times...", but most of the time Neurosis sits down in a gray and
cold room, philosophizing over the mysteries of life, death and beyond. It's
agony, regret and maybe fear in the music. A search for...something (answers?)....well,
as you might figure out, there are a lot of emotions within this album. I like
it a lot, even if I sometimes miss the fury that Neurosis are able to create.
But if I want that I just put "Times..." in stereo.
I guess this album will continue to grow, because it isn't an easy album. You must sit or lay down and really listen to this. And It's really worth it! "The Eye Of Every Storm" is a great album...Enough said!
Ranking 8 / 10
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS
The Good Son
Not metal. Not at all. But I dont think that Mr. Cave needs a presentation.
The music are painful and beautiful, in true Cave spirit. And it´s that what I like about that guy: He can really but pain, sorrow and loss into music. More than anyone can.
Best songs are: "Sorrow´s child", "The Weeping Song" and "The Ship song".
Ranking: 6 / 10
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS
The Best Of
Well, a best of album from the man him self cannot fail......and it doesnt! All the great songs are here. Buy it!
Ranking: 10 / 10
Oh my God how awful. Can music like this be made? It should be a death penalty for making this kind of music.....
To be honest: I haven´t really listen to the whole album yet, because I just couldn´t stand it.......
Ranking: 0 / 10
Nile's been around for a while now, but it isn't until this release that I got my eyes on those Americans. So whats so speciall with another American Death Metal band (feels like there is an explosion of those right now)? First of all, Nile spice there Metal up with Egypt stuff (well, hard to describe, but you can clearly hear it). Second, all members of Nile handles the vocals. Third, Nile play there Death Metal smart and with variation. In the middle of all the Grind a sudden and surprising part of choirs and weird instruments (Egyptian probably...) hits my face. And thats what I like about Nile: They surprise me. Very often in fact.
Conclusion: Nile isn't like others and I thank some higher powers for that.
Ranking: 9 / 10
NILE
In Their Darkened Shrines
The long awaited follower to "Black Seeds of Vengeance" finally arrives. Nile have made same line up changes, but that is nothing that reflects on the music. Actually not much have changes since last album, and thats how we want Nile, isn't it? Even if I was fooled when I heard the first track "Sarcophagus" (it's number 3 on the album, but I listened to that one first. Don't ask me why); a slow and heavy song, with some dark keyboards in the background. Wow, I thought, so Nile uses a slower approach on this album....But when the song after that one starts, "Kheftiu Asar Butchiu" (nr.4) starts I remember Nile as I used to know them: Brilliant supersonic speed. But not just blastbeats, there are melodies and strange things going on in the background, and here and there a acoustic guitar or a strange Egyptian instrument interrupt the madness. And Karl Saunders voice are as dark as before....
So, is this album better than "Black Seeds..."? I do not know actually. The two albums are very alike, but at the same time not. One difference are the solos; On "Black Seeds..." there are not so many guitar solos, but on this album they appear here and there. I know some people hate those itching, screaming solos. But the solos doesn't destroy the music, as some bands manage to do.... Well, better or not? "In Their..." are worthy the same marks as "Black Seeds...". No doubt. A great album!
Best song on the album? Well, hard to pick one, but "Unas, Slayer of the Gods" are one favorite.
Ranking: 9 / 10
NOTRE DAME
Le Theatre Du Vampire
Swedish/French group with Snowy Shaw, who earlier played with Merciful Fate and King Diamond. This group is a little unusual......They get their inspiration from horror comic books, and they add a big bunch of black humor in the lyrics, and there you have Notre Dame! Does it sound stupid? It might, but it isn´t! They do it in a excellent way, and with Snowy´s voice you get that creepy feeling while listen to it.
The music has it roots in black/death/Goth metal and they mix it up great. This is one of the best bands I have heard in years actually. I have never heard something like this before!
Tired of all crapy satanic black metal? Buy Notre Dame and you will be happy again!
Ranking: 10 / 10
NOTRE DAME
Demi Monde Bizarros
Finally Snowy Shaw and the rest of the maniacs release a new album. It was a while ago since "Le Theatre...", and since I loved that album, the waiting was for this one was pretty hard. There are no changes in the lineup, so everything should be as before, right? Yes, something's are, like the songtitles: funny wrong-spelled titles like "Munsters" and the play with words like "Hitmusic for hitmen", etc. The lyrics are, as it says on the front cover: "Songs about Sex, Satan and Sado-masochism". All those things are just as before, and that's the trademark for Notre Dame. Unfortunately, the music are not as before: the mix between rock, rocka-a-billy, gothic and black metal are all gone on "Demi...". That mix was the main reason why I loved "Le Theatre..." so much. Snowy Shaw, who handles the vocals, varied his voice a lot on "Le Theatre..". It was a black metal voice, a deep-dark voice and something which sounds like a power metal voice. On "Demi...", Snowy mostly sings with the deep-dark voice and the music aren't that varied. There are no crazy black metal screams, no surprises in the music and the songs are all mid-paced. The whole album just makes no impression. It is not a bad album, hell no, but there are no peaks. Quite boring actually, and that's NOT what Notre Dame are supposed to be! Maybe they are getting old...?
Ranking 5 / 10
NORDIC METAL
A Tribute to Euronymous
This is compilation album with mostly Norwegian and Swedish black metal bands from the early 90´s. So there is Dimmu Borgir and other MTV bands here.....
The story behind this album is long, so I skip that here.
Bands like Mayhem, Marduk, Arcturus, Mysticum, Abruptum and Emperor shows up with some unreleased material. And thats always nice to here......Some are good, some are not and some are very demo.....But who cares?
This is a nice album, showing the most and best bands in the early black metal scene. Some of the bands doesn´t exist anymore, some is popular and some are not.
So if you are curious of the early black metal scene, you should find this album right away!
Ranking: 8 / 10
