Although Pagan Metal band :Nodfyr: (yes, that’s how they like their name to be written) have been around for a few years, honing and sculpting their already distinctive sound, this is actually their debut full length release. Hailing from Gelderland in the Netherlands the band’s sound and lyrics are very much rooted their ancient native land, its history, nature and culture, which genuinely comes across in their music.
The open boundaries of Pagan Metal mean that :Nodfyr: can introduce many styles of Metal into their songs and because there’s a cohesion between them it works really well. Even though they differ a little from their Nordic counterparts there is still evidence of many other bands of all nationalities, from Einherjer or Primordial through to Heidevolk, The Vision Bleak (‘Zelf’ in particular) or even Fejd as the band mix touches of Extreme Metal with, pounding unrelenting Heavy/Pagan Metal alongside bits of traditionally-influenced Folk (see ‘Driekusman’ for instance…). Where :Nodfyr: possibly strike even further out on their own is with the low Gothic, almost Baritone male vocals which take the lead.
In the main, there’s nothing particularly fast or urgent about the songs on offer here, it doesn’t appear to be what :Nodfyr: are about. Instead, they like to build an atmosphere, a wall of heaviness where the drums pound along, driving the songs forward like a giant behemoth striding onward over the moors of Gelderland, ready to challenge any foe. But this means the sudden quicker, more extreme moments (like the brief one in ‘Bloedlijn’) have even greater effect, driving the whole of the song forward and bringing an air of unpredictability. There’s plenty of melody on offer within the vocals, and along with the music means this is an album presented with unyielding passion, power and commitment, but also the sound works well with the liberal doses of melancholy, like on the album’s closing track, the poignant ‘Nagedachtenis’ (which translates as ‘Remembrance’). A great start for this Pagan Metal band on their own immersive and personal musical journey.
(7.5/10 Andy Barker)
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