Naglfar. I think at some point I had listened to a used CD by this band and put it back without buying it. But I can’t say for sure – there are a shitload of used black metal type CDs at my friend’s shop, and as the style rarely appeals to me if I don’t catch anything worth my attention on the initial listen, I just toss it back in the pile without taking much note of who or why. The name sounds very familiar to me in the context of the used bin, though.
This is a reissue, but I am treating it like a new release because I have no choice. It’s a basic Black Metal act with slightly better production than some similar stuff I have heard, but it’s obviously a black metal production job. The guitars are buzzsaw distorted with that almost not distorted sound the church burners seem to like best. The bass is not really a bass so much as a singly plucked guitar string. But at least you can hear it. The singer is actually a little more emotive than most BM screechers, but just a little. The drums are somewhere between coffee cans and a decent kit. Everything is echoed to the point of annoyance, but again that’s kind of standard BMing.
The songwriting is pretty good. It’s pretty standard stuff, but maybe this is a reissue of the record that “started it all”. Whatever, the songs are varied in tempo and style, which means you don’t get bored with it as easily. Thematically it’s Satan Blasphemy Suicide…same old shit. The musicianship is decent, but nothing stands out about it.
Bottom Line: I don’t have any knowledge of the importance of this disc to the black metal scene, nor do I give much of a fuck. It was a pleasant enough listen and seems like it would please the BM faithful with its fiery performances and adherence to the form. For the average metalhead I think this is a good black metal record if you are looking for something in that style. It’s got the kind of production that lets you appreciate what the band is trying to do, and it has some good songwriting. Especially if you need an introduction to black metal, this is a great place to start. I will listen to this on occasion.
