Azaghal

Thursday, 12 January 2012 22:49

Band: Azaghal
Album: Nemesis
Label: Moribund Records
Tracks: 10
Release Date: 31.01.2012
Length: 53' 26" Riff Score: 7.0/10 How are scores attributed? The black metallers Azaghal, with its brand new "Nemesis" album, are a refreshing way to start 2012!


This Azaghal is not the dwarf leader of Belegost, from "The Lord Of The Rings", but a band from Finland. This Azaghal is another army that belongs to the vast list of bands with LOTR's names and I won't need to identify them, because most of you know who they are.

I must add that Azaghal is around us since 1995 and "Nemesis", the new album to be released on January 31, via Moribund Records, is their ninth one. Azaghal's discography is also rich in split CDs.

After the first two tracks which are direct and regular in the black metal field, "Vihasta ja Veritöistä" is the very first scent of melody due to the lead guitar. However, I can't forget about the splendid guitar riff that opens "De Masticatione Mortuorum" or the little passage on the second track "Pohjoisen Valkoinen Kuolema" featuring a vicious guitar solo succedded by an epic way to end it.

Nex to "Hail The Whore", we have "Ex Nihilo" that goes more into mid-tempo territory during its initial phase, until it progressively escalates into something with more speed. In a repetitive way that verges on the hypnotic, this track also presents a muttering voice which made Attila Csihar spark in my mind.

The similarities do not end there and if everyone tried to exclude any resemblance to Dissection, the "In Deathlike Silence" track drops all this effort, because this song is almost an imitation of "Night's Blood". Still, I like this song.

Near the end of the album, it's easy to understand that "Nemesis" alternates between straight black metal and melodic stuff. If with "Black Legions of Satan" we have Azaghal's orthodox vein, in the title-track we have once again the beautiful, yet aggressive, soundscapes. Clean vocals are also used on this title-track, and guess what? I liked it! Black metal is not obligated to be only growls and muttering.

If you are used to read my reviews, you know that I often speak of the production department and there's no exception at the moment. I must congratulate the studio work for "Nemesis", specially because of the drums: it is in the right place, very polished, both shocks and china are well accurate and sounding perfect to me.

In fact, Narqath is for Azaghal like Shatraug is for Sargeist. For me, these musicians and their bands are the ones who best embodies the extreme sound from Finland and, coincidence or not, both are on Moribund's ranks.

In sum, I feel that Azaghal, with its brand new "Nemesis" album, are a refreshing way to start 2012 and I just wish them to keep this already long career with the regularity and constant standing that already accustomed us.


Review by Diogo Ferreira




Post: Diogo Ferreira







Metal Genres: Black Metal |

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