First wave-y black metal. Nifelheim are an interesting group that weave that line between the first and second waves of black metal--not because they were genre pioneers or anything, but just because their largely first wave-influenced (often proto-thrashy a la Bathory) style often finds itself bleeding into more the developed second wave sound (the change in blast beating style, heavier use of double bass, Darkthrone-y riffs, etc.) that was popular when the album was actually released. rThe proto-thrashiness makes the album feel like a fun throwback (especially given it came out in the heart of the second wave movement) and the vocals are particularly nasty (albeit a little too loud and overbearing). I've never been huge on the first wave sound, but for early-style black metal, Nifelheim's first record is a fairly good one.
Bump |
