Arde from Berlin, Germany were already featured on the pages of this webzine with their last release. This time, they just let out a split opus with Spanish horde called Nakkiga. This one contains three conceptual songs by Nakkiga and only one almost fifteen minute long song by Arde called ‘Basalarr’, the name of the song is offering ancient mystical plant, that has life and strength and is very important to Basque culture. The song itself starts atmospheric and slow rolling, turning into fast blast beats, aggressive black metal screams, bordering with anguish and desperate cries and guitar work not unlike nineties old school black metal riffing. Then song later evolves again into atmospheric ambiental piece with guitars, wind swipes and chimes taking you into some other dimension and delivering calm and darkness into you, but also giving you strength to close your eyes, take a deep breath and go on with your life battling your inner demons successfully. So, although it is one long song, it could easy be divided into couple of different songs but it does not get boring for a second. Nakkiga side consists of three conceptual songs about the birth cycle of life, mixing pure black metal assault with aggression and melancholic melody, but also giving it a breath of crust punk attack in both bands’ music. I love the epic guitar work for example in ‘Denbora’, love the production and the sound wall that Nakkiga creates and I can only imagine how mighty this sounds live. Hopefully I will witness it one day. Vocals are tortured screams, but not too extreme, just the way I like it. This is one hell of a mighty black metal release.
Unfelled are relatively new band in the scene but its members are in no way new and strangers to the scene. This band consists of D.(Woods Of Desolation) on guitars and bass, Vlad(Drudkh) on drums and Mitch(Austere, Dearthe) on vocals. This debut full length opus contains seven songs of pure raw pagan black metal with lots of blast beats, old school nineties black metal influenced guitar work and screaming black vocals. But, there are couple of epic parts and melodies which make this one an interesting listen between aggression, anguish, pride and pagan beliefs to melancholy, sadness and melody. Songs like heavy hitters ‘The Opposer’ or ‘Veil of Perdition’ or my personal favorite ‘Transcendent Legacy’ are sure to win you over with tempo changes, darkness that is almost touchable in its thickness created through music. I must also commend vocals which are screamed black vocals but also harsh, yet you are able to understand most of being sung, so that is another plus in my opinion. There are couple of longer songs on this one but the opus doesn’t get boring for one single second. This is a strong black metal record with conviction and steel delivered through music. Go get this one.
Norwegian black metal veterans Tulus are back with their new opus, first one in three years. eighth in all. I remember how they blew me away with their debut album ‘Pure Black Energy’ back in the day. Members of Tulus also play in Sarke and Khold among other bands and projects. This opus offers ten songs of what is somewhat called True Norwegian Black Metal, but I would say with lots of prog and inventive elements thrown into songwriting. Aggression and old school atmosphere is still here, but there are couple of songs, like excellent ‘Sjelesmerte’ which involves changes in tempo, slowed down, and those eerie female vocals melodies are superb, courtesy of Lena Fløitmoen who also sings female vocals for Sarke. All lyrics are in Norwegian and that is another plus although I do not speak it and not understand besides my German and English but I manage to get context of the lyrics. One of my favorites is also ‘Bloddråpesvermer’ with that bass line melody, thrown in acoustic guitars and melancholic piano ending. If you are into old school Norwegian black metal, and you haven’t listened to three decades of these legends, now is the time for you to correct that mistake.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 