Review Summary: m/
Out of all the metal subgenres, black metal may have the most propensity for fun, what with the way its provocateurs can shamelessly flirt with power-nerd fantasies while maintaining a devilish degree of aggression. Scalding really makes the most of this dynamic on their sophomore LP, drawing influence from early pioneers like Venom to the brutal cold sound of the second wave via Mayhem and Dissection, yet with a very Gothenburg knack for the odd Thin Lizzy harmony.
Ultimately this diverse array of influence gives birth to a record that is bursting at the seams with all sorts of compositional twists and turns. The interplay between Simon Millington and Anthony Sirianni's guitars offers endless entertainment, often splitting off from each other for solos and thrashing palm mutes before converging again for a double helix of interlocking leads. Meanwhile, Kevin Emms and Jon Maheswaran hold down the rhythm with brutal tenacity. Millington also provides a ferocious vocal performance, and after seeing the band live, I can say firsthand how impressive it is how he manages to exude such a commanding presence while tackling two jobs at once.
Each act of
Nuclear Winter Spell manages to bring its own standout moment to the table, but songs such as the title track, "DEAD STAG," "OVERTHROWN," and "HILL OF THE CROSS" stick out the most for their memorable leads, with the latter of the four probably doing the best job at giving every element of Scalding's songwriting a moment to shine (the way the guitars drop out for the bass, drums, and vocals before coming back in for a cheese-coated harmony is just brilliant).
Nuclear Winter Spell is a thrilling ride that is also packed with enough small details and clever transitions to ensure lasting appeal and a good return on investment for multiple listens. Truly a landmark release for the Vancouver metal scene.
