Dusty Old Demos - Nazgul - Omne Est Paratrum

This is the first in a new series that will focus upon reviewing obscure, overlooked and often forgotten demos from black metals past that may otherwise not get talked about on this blog.

Tracklist:
1. Eccidium
2. Ante Bellum

This is the 1998 debut release from the now inactive, possibly defunct Italian black metal band Nazgul which was formed of “Thornset” on guitar, bass and vocals, “Zakrathor” on keyboards, samplers, drums and further vocals, and “Dominus Aperorum” providing more vocal work.

The first thing that makes this demo stand out a little more than most is that it somehow manages to at times blend light symphonic and pagan black metal music with extremely harsh depressive screaming vocals and sometimes even death metal vocal styles and chant. The use of keyboards and horns is pronounced along with drum playing that could easily pass as programming, while any kind of riff work is reduced to background static and is almost pointless.

The finest aspect of this demo is its overall bold and purposeful sound that has a driven determination to plough straight through the listener and keep going, it certainly will not be for many people because of the often bizarre style transitions that can happen suddenly and without warning in the middle of a track.

If I had to compare this demo’s sound to another band it would have to be the 2006 album La Sanie des siècles - Panégyrique de la dégénérescence from the French band Peste Noire, as the two records seem to share a certain affinity in my mind.





Nazgul
 

Scáth Na Déithe - The Horrors Of Old (EP Review)

Tracklist:

1. Their Warning                     

2. The Savage Hunger of the Dead                 

3. Within These Walls They Wait for Death               

4. An Sluagh

This is the debut release from the newly formed two man, Irish, death metal influenced black metal project Scáth Na Déithe (Shadow The Gods). The project is formed of Cathal Hughes providing Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Synth, and Stephen Todd on drums.

This is more of a two track EP if I am perfectly honest, the first and last tracks are very short ambient instrumentals that don’t really provide anything. However the second and third tracks each run in at around the ten minute mark and are fairly impressive.

The sound of these tracks is a solid blend of very death metal inspired vocals and often depressive and gloom ridden riff and drum work that comes together to create a very oppressive and heavy sound that is pretty impressive.

Considering this is the very first release from these guys it is encouraging to see that some clear dedication and effort has gone into this release, however whether the kind of sound the project is focusing upon would play as well on a full length is one we will have to wait and see.

Support the project here 

      

Algor - Úder Pohanského Hnevu (Album Review)

Tracklist: 

1. Vzplanutie slovanskej nenávisti

2. Pohanský boj 
3. Vládca zimnej krajiny
4. Čas odplaty 
5. Výzva k pomste
6. Slovanská krv
7. V objatí lesnej ríše 
8. Príchod bielej kráľovny
9. Moc ducha pohanského
10. Tajomstvo jaskyne

This is the first full length release from the two man Slovakian raw black metal project Algor. It was originally released in 2003 and saw Aldaron providing Vocals, Guitars and Bass, and Miroslav "Slavfist" providing drum work.

I was lucky enough to be able to get hold of a cassette copy of this album so I thought I would write a review on it rather than the bands most recent full length release Hierofánia from 2013.

Right from the first few moments of the first track I was impressed by just how raw and frankly crude the band’s sound was, each track is like a panzer division of snare beats and hatred ploughing straight into your face.

The only moments of calm are probably the slight pause between each track, which gives the listener a few seconds to catch their breath before the assault begins again.

Aldaron provides extremely abrasive vocals, and thankfully manages to make himself heard over the often dull and repetitive drum work that consists of almost nothing but blasting snare beats. This dull drum work is the album’s biggest let down, as it constantly distracts from the other more enjoyable musical elements, such as the often cold aggressive riff work of Aldaron. The obnoxious drum work however is as much a mixing problem as a musical one, and considering how low-fi most of this album is, some slack may have to be cut.

Overall this is pretty enjoyable raw black metal record that is by no means anything new for its time, but is still very much worth tracking down, especially as the cassette adds to the raw atmosphere. 

         

Shadowland - Through the Curtain of Falling Leaves (Album Review)

Tracklist:

1. Last August Rain     

2. Dead Soul     

3. Victoria     

4. Victoria (Part 2)     

5. Fright of Coming Winter     

6. Non-Existent Skyline     

7. Through the Curtain of Falling Leaves     

8. Cold Autumn Wind 

This is the third full length release from the recently formed and prolific independent Russian Atmospheric/Ambient black metal project Shadowland.

Considering the large quantity of atmospheric black metal projects around at the moment I don’t get the chance to listen to as much of the genre as I would like to, but this project really caught my ear after I heard the seventh track off the album Through the Curtain of Falling Leaves.

This is, for the most part, an incredibly powerful and downright beautiful album that perfectly mixes an abundance of inspired synthesizer work that has a strong resemblance to dungeon synth with more conventional black metal elements such as harrowing screams and melodic riff work.

However, for me this albums highlights were its moments of dungeon synth, the tracks Victoria, and Victoria (Part 2) really showcased some of the best playing but good synth work is prevalent throughout almost every track on the album.

My only complaint about this album is its length, it comes in at just under 65 minutes which is perhaps a little too long, and I did find that it was beginning to lose some direction and momentum towards the final few tracks, especially the final track Cold Autumn Wind which left the album’s conclusion a little flat with its sudden shift in style to distorted and drone like ambient.

However despite a few issues this is still a good release, and one that is well worth taking the time to check out if naturalistic gloom driven synth infused black metal is your thing. 

Check out the band's bandcamp page here