Vocalist Wrath (Dodsferd) plus guitarist Nadir (Stellar Darkness), equals Greece’s Nadiwrath and their greasy, punk infused take on black metal. Nihilistic Stench has some pretty rollicking moments and fun little riffs scattered here and there, but as a 50-minute black metal album—even for the target Darkthrone fans—it’s a little bit of a drag.
Nadiwrath are best served when delivering short, energetic and at times downright catchy, punk driven thrashing numbers like opener “Darkness has Lost its Meaning”, which serves as a tasty little appetite wetter for “Two Face Shit Fuckers”, “Horns”, and raucous but slightly repetitive “Another Pimping Whore”. But too often, Nadiwrath try to spread their creative wings and deliver some material that’s less intoxicated and wanders into generic black metal. Which is a shame as the virtually bass-less, buzzing throes and overall tone of some of the riffs are pretty enjoyable. That being said, Wrath’s high end screeches become slightly grating after a bit.
If “Darkness has Lost its Meaning” is the booze fueled, uninhibited night of partying, the 8-minute attempt at frosty landscapes (and eventually grating shriek fest) “There is No Light” is the angry, fight everyone repeat yourself, yell loudly at everyone, slurring part of the night. Cut (about) three minutes out of it and it could be more digestible. The same can be said for “Eyes full of Vengeance” and directionless, 9-minute closure “Memories Are Dead” — which is the vurp filled, headaches and yuk mouth of the subsequent hangover. It tries to be a moody, depressive number but clashes vehemently with the mood of the rest of the album, especially the attempts at singing, and again with the grating wail overkill.
If Nihilistic Stench had been about a 30-minute album of eight to ten, two, three minute songs (i.e “Winter Nights”)—where the riffs wouldn’t have dragged on for quite so long, and the attention span kept short and virulent—it would have been a scorching little release. As it stands now…it’s an ‘okay’ album in spurts from a band that needs some serious self-editing.
Much like myself.
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Good review but DO.NOT.WANT
on Jan 24th, 2011 at 01:30If you seriously think that that album is “virtually bass-less” and that the length of the songs is more of a problem than Wrath’s vocal offenses, then you’re deaf.
on Mar 8th, 2011 at 05:24