Swedish Black Metal titans NAGLFAR return with their seventh album, promising punishing Melodic Black Metal chaos. Out on May 8th via Century Media Records.
Eerie ambience drops into melodically charged riffs and a storm of blastbeats with savage howling vocals. This album is clearly going to sound massive with a ferocious display of Black Metal excellence captured with a stunning production. Melancholic nuances lie within the cold riffs, hammering drums and bestial vocals to give an emotive texture to the riveting Black Metal hellfire. Certainly some vicious Swedish Black Metal from a well-respected band, this is a glorious return to form.
Chilling, haunting and spectral passages continue to rampage with a ravaging blizzard of extremity. The melodically blistering guitar work is certainly impressive, as are the relentless drums providing a perfect backdrop for the monstrous vocal performance. Naglfar of course are not a small name in Swedish Black Metal, there is clearly a good reason for this as the crushing weight of their new album showcases with a profound magnificence. This definitely has the cold sound and artillery-like battery, played in a far more melodic manner than many other Swedish groups.
Each song transcends gorgeously into the next making this a smooth and easy album to listen to with their boldly well-produced style and talented performances. While this may not have the raw edge that many seek in Black Metal, it makes up for this tenfold with an astonishing and riveting use of fantastic instrumental and vocal work to offer something much tighter. The cover art by Necrolord is as usual with his work, a splendid insight into the sound of the band with their eerie and ghostly stylistic touches. Certainly a perfect fit for the record.
Overall this is a really killer release from a band who have not even begun to dwindle or falter, seven albums into their lengthy career. If this album is testament to Naglfar’s future and their unrelenting brilliance, then truly it is a glorious one. A great new release under their belts, this is certainly worth a spin for fans of more high-end production Black Metal with a penchant for melody and atmospherics. -8/10
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