(Our Oslo-based contributor Chile prepared the following review of a new album by the now-Sweden-based black metal band Nigrum. The album was just released last month by Iron Bonehead Productions.)
Multiculturalism, what a concept. Joining two (or more) different cultures in a fusion of varying elements of traditions, customs, and human existences to achieve a new state of equilibrium and a richer tapestry of life for everyone to enjoy. Anyway, where else would that be more true and visible than in that melting pot of postmodern lunacy, namely metal.
Such is the story of Nigrum, originally hailing from Mexico, but settling in Sweden, thus bringing some of the southern madness into the insanity of the darker parts of the world. Coming off their well-received debut album Elevenfold Tail, which was a fantastic accomplishment in itself, Nigrum have wasted no time in recording a follow-up to keep the momentum going. Two years have passed, and with some minor personnel changes, Blood Worship Extremism is now before us, courtesy of Iron Bonehead Productions.
For the uninitiated, the band is the brainchild of Jacobo Z. L. who handles most of the guitars, vocals, and songwriting on display here. He is currently backed by M of Ultra Silvam on bass and additional vocals and Calle Larsson on drums, which technically makes them a power trio. As we know, some of the most fascinating music in history was made in this setup, so Nigrum has some big shoes to fill.
Eight out of ten leading researchers also agree that the two prevailing schools of how to open a black metal album are the classically inclined school of the intro and the other being one that Nigrum uses here: the long-established school of going straight for the throat. The title track is announced with a drum roll that immediately turns into a stomping punisher of a song drenched in feedback, noting the departure from the relatively clean sound of the debut. Vocals spew out the noxious chants of old magic, stopping the snarls only for a moment to let the demons take hold of this domain.
“Ineffable Empire” continues the onslaught with a fabulously driven riff that marches through the ages twisting and turning its dagger with conviction. Barging seemingly out of nowhere, halfway through, the song slows down and pulls out one of those glorious heavy metal riffs that makes you want to get on a horse and cut some heads along the way. Laughing in the face of death, we into glory ride. This is followed by “Visions in the Dark”, the first of the two short interludes on the album, calming things down in an atmospheric conjoin of keyboards and the slightest of percussion.
“Where Mountains Collide” goes straight up the immortal route of straddling the borders of Blashyrkh, but luckily never turning into an imitation act. Guitars are blazing a path through the treacherous mountain passes where only eagles dare, surging forward in a manic exploration of the frontier vistas. Prominent bass grounds all of this to the roots of the mountain, while drums crash in a display of gleaming brilliance. The avalanche from the mountain overflows through “Telestic Gateways” in the most venomous song on the album whose mystery spills over us in a rampaging fury. Even the vocals hold extra rage in this one, while the guitars are bringing all the little melodic details out of the woodwork making this the most accomplished song here. Indeed, stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The second short interlude “Beneath Turquoise Waters” creeps eerily by using echoed guitar effects for that slow, drowning fadeout that turns into the “Splendor of the Old World”, which again turns on the heat in a rambunctious whirlpool of death and destruction. Pulling us in all directions, we are turned inside out by the very diabolical forces we sought to invoke in this ritual of blood worship extremism.
Coming close to the end, keen observers will notice here that the band’s debut album already had a song called “Murderer, Dweller”, so it is only logical to think that this is a reworking of some kind and we wouldn’t be wrong. The song’s extremities are reimagined to the extreme mentality of the new album by adding a welcome dose of extra aggression and an expanded atmospheric outro which gives the album a well-deserved closure.
Throughout the album the band’s chief weapon is the ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical dedication to the riff, that much is true. Ability to surprise even a seasoned listener is a welcome bonus and there is no greater joy than to see a band evolve by pushing themselves to the limit. We are certainly interested to follow the band on that journey.
The new album is out now and is available from Iron Bonehead Productions digitally and on both CD and vinyl. For orders, check the links below.
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/nigrum-blood-worship-extremism
https://www.facebook.com/Nigrumofficial/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4OWZJbS9JepSF700lF0FaE?si=YXqb8k6cQU6jHcR6Wlo1Cg