It’s been some time since British Gothic rockers NFD released their last album ‘Deeper Visions’ way back in 2008 although rumblings in the form of 2013 EP ‘Reformations’ made a statement and showed us they were back. It would appear that the band have been working now from both London and Los Angeles so don’t expect to bump into them so regularly in certain Camden watering holes. I had been looking forward to catching the band live again at Alt Fest but the less said about that the better and was intrigued to hear new material which on one play quickly and comfortably slotted in with the groups previous oeuvre. Apparently the album has been recorded in London, Malibu and Hollywood and if you are wondering if this has given it more of s “sunny” disposition don’t worry as sound wise it is business as usual and in the band’s own words “So let it end… so let it begin!”
Begin it does with a real epic number and the longest of their career (if I’m not very much mistaken). The title track is a whopper at over ten minutes, that booming and austere vocal presence of Peter ‘Bob’ White magnanimously echoing in around glistening guitar chords and then a near symphonic sound and battering drums flattening everything around them. There’s a huge sense of majesty and the melody is deep and rich, the sound instantly identifiable as it sprawls out and settles into a solid bass groove courtesy of Tony Pettit. With Cradle Of Filth’s James McIllroy providing lead guitar expect plenty of flourishes in that respect and despite the length of the number it coasts along effortlessly without any chance of becoming stale in the slightest. There’s little chance of the band ever shrugging off those comparisons to Fields Of The Nephilim / The Nefilim but there’s plenty of room for the bands to share the same sense of space as far as I am concerned and with this number they have hit a mesmerising epoch comparable to songs like the equally epic likes of ‘Last Exit To The Lost’ as the musicianship unravels and draws us into its multi-fronded depths.
There’s plenty more to come with the other nine numbers too and we rock into ‘Got Left Behind’ with drive from the booming bass, sparkle from the guitars and some uplifting chugging riffs bouncing and brooding away as the vocals roar and harmoniously rise in the background. It sounds excellent loud and powers the way out the speakers getting me head banging away and badly playing air guitar along with it. With songs like this it’s obvious that downtime aside the band have obviously not been left behind. Sharp, snappy shorter numbers like ‘Spiral’ progressively twist and turn, the central riff of this one incessant and irremovable after it embeds in your ear. Some massive drumming bombast and forcefully beguiling vocals parts on this make it an immediate choice for air-time, cover mount CD, or single as it powers away to a shattering sudden halt. More ballad etched and slow burning comes ‘Let You Fall,’ it could be a moment for human pyramids to build at shows although I am sure their construction will be solid and nobody will be tumbling down. By comparison the stormy ‘Red Sky Burning’ is going to get the pit fired up and windmilling around, it’s another powerful, groove heavy gloriously uplifting barnstormer of a number.
As each track comes and goes it leaves its mark and there’s little that I can find not to like about everything here. ‘The Great Divide’ feels like a classic from years past with Pettit going back to the dawn of his career and the vocal presence like a god speaking through the abyss from way back in the mid 80’s. Huge melody continues to sweep through things and everything continues with a massive sense of depth and purpose, each and every song having its own strong presence and personality making it very difficult to pick a favourite number. ‘Return To Dust’ certainly puts in a persuasive argument for being a contender, pounding away full of life, then there’s a massive build up to a dextrous guitar frenzy and rafter hitting vocals of ‘The Silence Of The Angels.’ Finally the end must come in the form of ‘Without End’ it really has been a giddy ride and one that’s been packed with adrenaline and emotion. The more I have played this the more I have become addicted to it and it’s definitely an essential purchase in my book. Hopefully there will be some live dates off the back of this as I am rather keen to witness these new tracks life, until then, “so let it end” indeed!
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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