I looked up this band and found that they came into existence in 1994, since when they have released an EP and four demos, including this 15 minute one.
Given their seniority as a band, it’s perhaps not surprising that “The Primordial Mode” is mature. Sometimes newer bands make the mistake of trying to do everything, resulting in an unholy mess, but these Finns have got the right idea. Classic heavy rock/metal bordering on thrash is what they do. Yet before we get to that they take the limited time to build up to it. “Nightingale” is a piece of deep and heavy thrash. The drums are beaten to death, the bass is prominent and – here’s the twist – a strong and powerful female vocal. Her voice, which can hold a note well, makes a good foil for the undercurrent provided by the drums. There are growls and with that pumping drum, there’s a powerful and energetic mix. The female vocals have a haunting element and there’s melody in the air. After “Daunting” comes “Argo”, another piece of refreshing rock. The drum pumps on and it’s a good romp but what makes this unusual is the feisty female. Its gothic style shouldn’t really go with the pumping rhythm but it does. Towards the end, “Argo” loses its way but we’re soon back on track with “Force Within”, another exercise in adrenaline. The driving force is again accompanied by frantic drumming and a wall of sound, growls and that voice which now has a spooky and vulnerable edge. One more break, a final big bash and it’s done.
15 minutes isn’t very long and this it’s not outlandishly adventurous, but the listener gets a good idea of what Neferion are about. “The Primordial Mode” is notable for its unrestricted energy and vibrant metal. The female vocalist adds spiciness to the proceedings. I imagine that the music of Neferion would work well live. It works well on cd.
(7/10 Andrew Doherty)
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