Year: 2020
Time: 43:41
Label: Century Media
Eight years of silence was certainly enough for the Swedish Melodic Black Metallers NAGLFAR, who are returning this year with their new album “Cerecloth”. NAGLFAR were formed in 1992 in Sweden and had quite a different approach to the Black Metal sound, comparing with the other Black Metal bands of that era. While most bands were trying to play as extreme and raw as they could, the Swedes were emphasized in emotion and melody. Despite the fact they had some member changes through the years, they were not affected by that and they continued to release records of high quality, consolidating their name among the most respected bands in the Black Metal scene.
“Cerecloth” starts with the title track, spawning from the roots of Melodic Black Metal, with influences from EMPEROR and an old school 90’s feeling. The next song is “Horns” has a more Viking Metal approach and a mid-tempo rhythm influenced by BATHORY. The album has an exceptional guitar work, with the guitars having a fairly wide range of sounds, influenced equally by the classic Heavy Metal scene and the cold-raw Black Metal sound We hear the result of this great work in the following songs “Like Poison for the Soul” and “Vortex of Negativity”.
In “Cry of the Seraphim” we can also hear some Death Metal elements (mostly reminding of BEHEMOTH) that are ideally adjusted to NAGLFAR’s sound. With the next two songs “The Dagger In Creation” and “A Sanguine Tide Unleashed,” we have a Black Metal attack with frozen Black Metal riffs, blasting drumming and Kristoffer W. Olivius ‘s furious vocals tearing flesh apart. The end for “Cerecloth” comes with “Necronaut” and “Last Breath of Yggdrasil”. The first has an emotional feeling and “Last Breath of Yggdrasil” is the song that characterizes the whole album’s sound, as it includes what we have heard so far from NAGLFAR; again Viking Metal elements and melodic Black Metal at its best.
“Cerecloth” can easily characterize as one of 2020 best releases in Melodic Black Metal but it could had been better if there was more attention in the album’s production. The compositions have a great dynamic that would be even more intense if the bass sound was not buried in the mix. Perhaps this was done on purpose to emphasize on the guitars, but at the same time it takes away a little from the songs’ potency.
With “Cerecloth” NAGLFAR make a great return, as they offer us a very good Melodic Black Metal record, proving at the same time that their eight years of absence had a positive impact on their sound. In “Cerecloth”, NAGLFAR sound refreshed, angry, melodic and more emotional than ever. Surely, we can regard this record as a great release in the band’s discography.
Rating: 7.5/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: NAGLFAR – Official Page
