Nargaroth - Era Of Threnody (EN)

"Era Of Threnody" is one of these albums where the prehistory of development is of great importance. The album was mainly influenced by the world journey, on which Ash entered the world of nomadic people and gained experiences. He has now summarized these on a 60 minute album.

Gentle sounds and a female voice initiate the album, afterwards the guitar starts off, then the eruption follows. Catchy, but slightly restrained Black Metal riffs pave their way, driven by the dragging drum. Then the unmistakable singing of Ash begins, which is almost omnipresent above the instruments. The music is powerful, energetic and catchy. The Black Metal 101 was served.

In "Whither Goest Thou", the riffs are even more grippy and the drums provide an appealing, dynamic design. A break follows soon. Everything is reduced at the same time. The guitars are no longer distorted but sound soft and lie down in the auditory canals. Then the outbreak follows again, from one extreme it turns into the next. The samples, which end up in the stormy music, provide a welcome tension.
These small breaks and newly opened horizons define the new album by Nargaroth. Usually, the band comes straight into the drive and delivers massive outbursts, but here and there it sometimes turns into down-tempo passages or a chorus mixes under the stormy sections ("Conjuction Underneath The Alpha").

Ash has also discovered a new musical direction, called Flamenco, which is also being processed on an album for the first time. The acoustic guitar often gives a short intro to the songs or is expressed in the short breaks which creates a Latin atmosphere like in "As Orphans Drifting In A Deser". This results in an interesting voltage ratio of black metal arias and Latin American influences. Choirs also provide an atmospheric compression.

Between the whole melodic and highly melancholic songs, short and brutal tracks get their space as well. Both "Love Is A Dog From Hell", as well as "TXFO" are dirty songs that push forward. There are no omissions. They have a much higher aggressive basic mood, however, in which also a thrashiing guitar-solo finds its place. Though you don't find powerful guitars only in these songs. In "Era Of Threnody" flamenco sounds are penetrated with these and a successful symbiosis is performed. Here too, the basic mood is much more aggressive, the song seems to be filled with hate.

Those moody songs define Nargaroth's sound and the album really benefits from the listener switching from one mood into the next one. That's how they play with the listener. After a quiet phase a black metal explosion is feinted, but a warm voice follows, which is accompanied by a gentle instrumentalization. Suddenly the roughness turns into gentle dreams.

Conclusion:
Anyone who still thinks of "Black Metal Is Krieg" when they hear Nargaroth, should take this album to learn of another side of the band. With "Era Of Threnody" an album has been created, which brings exciting and varied music with it. Ash has managed to turn his journey around the world into a musical journey and to create an album that permanently keeps the tension high. Fantastic!

Rating: 9/10

Recommendation: everything