Review Summary: Mystical Synergy Vindication
When a great iteration of a band fractures, it normally weakens those fractured parts. But sometimes it doesn’t. This is one such case in point. Last year I wrote about the latest In The Woods… album “Diversum” and how that band had shed integral members over the last few albums but had admiringly found a new lease on life creatively and are rolling on. But what of the previous members?
That brings us to Nattehimmel (Norsk for ‘Night Sky’). This new band is the reuniting of the Botteri brothers (Christian - guitars and Christopher - bass) both original members of In The Woods… with James Fogarty (guitars, keys and vocals) who previously worked together on “Pure”, the In The Woods… 2016 progressive metal masterpiece. The band is proficiently rounded out by drummer Sven Rothe (of Strange New Dawn).
Theirs is a 90’s black metal obsession and dedication to this era and kvlt which permeates almost immediately from the intro title track “Mourningstar”. An ominous rumbling sits behind eerie keys and sung prologue before easing into first song “Astrology”. Noting the celestial concept, my initial impression is that this looks and sounds like a thematic sequel to “Pure”, which is a very welcome proposition. The 90’s black metal tremolos weave nostalgic melodies which are accentuated by a tinkling bells keyboard effect that I first heard many years ago in Dimmu Borgir’s “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant” haunting “Entrance”. The vocals are a classic combination of Fogarty’s gothic cleans and snarling rasp and introduce the album’s cosmic yet introspective lyrical subject matter.
It’s a very strong start. The following “Each Man a Constellation” continues the existential metaphors and musically the riffs become more urgent and darker as the narrator gets sucked into a proverbial black hole. These themes of gods and eons past are also found in the excellent “Armies of Tiamat”. This song has a kick halfway through which elevates this track above others. Intricate guitars and chants combine to deliver an epic piece before the final passage and closing “Shattered into a million pieces; Armies of Tiamat arise!!”.
“Slay the Shepherd” has a bloodline direct from 2016’s “Pure”. At 2:00 another delightful twist in the song structure takes this track to another level and reinforces my thinking that these here are a superior assembly of melodic and gothic black metal songs that each have highlights independent of each other but also collectively bounce off each other.
These musicians knew they had chemistry in the making of “Pure” and are vindicated in coming together again to produce another avant-garde album of this quality. “Mountain of Northern Kings” also revels in atmospheric beauty revealing the power of the doomy keyboards and synths in enhancing already good instrumentation.
“Realm of Hades” starts with a slightly lighter tone but facts, none of this is light as was the deal in 90’s black metal. True to form it descends into furious black metal beckoning “Come deliver us, oh Jupiter or send destroying Mars!”. The maelstrom that ensues is reminiscent of Pure’s “Cult of Shining Stars”, further recalling this creative foundation. The album’s mix gives a nod to Emperor’s “In the Nightside Eclipse” and Dimmu Borgir’s “For All Tid” but also their previous band’s back catalogue and should appeal to black metal devotees who enjoy interesting melodic Norwegian dark arts metal. Notwithstanding, in truth I personally prefer the beefier production found on “Pure” though acknowledge the throwback sonic design and note the physical product for “Mourningstar” best represents the album as intended.
Finally in the cyclonic closer “The Night Sky Beckons”, Nattehimmel have fiercely reminded everyone of the magic of this era of metal music with a modern inflection and hopefully this is just the beginning of this renewed collaboration.
