Year: 2020
Total Time: 19:09
Label: Self-Financed
What would you think if you were supposed to check out a band that combined some seemingly irrelevant or at least different and unsuitable genres of the extreme music ? NADIR from Norway is such a case, they are a new band created by 2 experienced musicians, the drummer Jonas Bengtson from the Stoner/Sludge/Thrashers OCEAN DWELLER and the vocalist of the hardcore-stoner band JAGGED VISION Ole Wik.
It seems that what they are trying to achieve with NADIR is to combine all those influences and variations from their main bands, put them in the black metal cauldron that those Norwegian fellows know how to use up in the north and present us the result through this first EP they released by themselves.
So, this first effort entitled “The Great Dying” includes 4 songs and from the very first seconds its grinding teeth are shown as the same titled song is spilling out from the speakers with its almost hyperspeed rhythm drawing our attention as the combination of all these elements I wrote about before cannot leave any extreme sound aficionado untouched. Things with the rest of the songs are on the same paths, the fast speeds prevail, there are both blastbeats and groovy parts, the guitar sound is mostly black metal-ish with dark complexion and melodies while the vocals tend to follow more sludge and hardcore ways. The closing track “The Wasteland Of Man” is the one that I believe combines all these, while “Ttrishul” is more black and “Tungetale” goes more hardcore through black and death forms reminding me of such bands as BEHEMOTH or CONVERGE. The production is very good for the size (and obviously budget) of the band, everything is both properly heard and with the appropriate “dirt” that is needed in order for the songs to stand out.
All and all, this first “experiment” if I am allowed to say from NADIR is quite interesting, they seem to like walking on a tightrope with all the combinations and influences they want to mix here and they surely take a risk but as it seems there is lots of talent and with the necessary work, the future looks quite promising and interesting. For the moment this EP is available only in digital format from the bands bandcamp page, there is no information yet for a traditional physical format being out anytime soon. Those of you faithful and intrigued, check them out and support !
Rating: 6.5/10
Editor: Antonis Livanios
Related Link: NADIR – Bandcamp Page
