I only really know of Texans Necrofier because of the review of their debut album hereabouts and the fact a handful of people I know have name checked them relatively recently. So pretty much blind here, but eager.

‘The Fall From Heaven’ opens the album with throat singing and curious strings and simple percussion, a piano delicately playing and classical style female vocals. It’s an eerie piece of music, an ominous atmosphere, a harbinger if you like. Not what I was expecting and all the better for that; it embraces and envelopes and..

‘Total Southern Darkness’ descends. A doomy opening riff, a lush sound, and classic black metal vocals. The melody rises, dark and doomy before the speed gathers like a storm. There’s a nod to parts of the English black metal sound here, the atmospheric riff, but the melody and the tempo changes begin to carve out its own space. The drumming feels powerful; the speeding parts have an old school feel to it but somehow the drums keep it fresh. There is a section two thirds in where the tempo and feel shifts dramatically but then the theme returns and a darkly sweet guitar break leads us out. It’s an intriguing start.

‘To The Wolves’ initially sounds much more primitive, more raw. A punching rhythm harking back to the early days of the eighties but the melody and atmosphere sweep in and around regardless, and a tempestuous almost Emperor-esque feel lashes around. ‘Forbidden Light Of The Black Moon’ again has a slight doomy feel, a thick vein of heavy metal too in the riff and the fantastic melody line and a kind of Immortal chug and groove begins to assert itself; that relentless stride into darkness with the vocals to match. Unexpected, again the word that springs to mind. But it’s a damn fine song. ‘Destroying Angels’ is a slower one, an unsettling winding feel to the guitar work and a raw style to the song without feeling remotely lo-fi. Something about it sits oddly with me though and despite multiple plays it appears to be the moment when my mind wanders a little.

‘Whispers That Burn In The Dark’ again has that almost Winterfylleth feel to the riff initially, then a moment of pure heavy metal with air raid siren vocals and riff that suddenly plunges into a fantastic headlong ride racing Immortal to the finish. Fantastic blend that works beautifully.

‘The All Seeing Shadows’ is just a quality slice of raw edged, excellently arranged black metal with a strange sense of atmosphere woven through it. ‘On Wings Of Death We Burn The Sky’ pretty much does what it says; a fiery and intense number. ‘Call To The Beyond’ has an almost slow punk swagger to it at first and sways along in an off kilter way.

‘Burnt By The Sacred Flame’ is a fitting epic of melody and intensity to round out the album.

Atmosphere and melody is absolutely the name of the game here. Necrofier have a talent for drawing together a true heavy metal sensibility in the guitars. It all creates a strange blend of early Immortal, atmospheric and almost gothic touches, a real heavy metal soul somewhere in there and a satisfying gritty feel. It is blended so well too and, a song aside that didn’t quite gel, the album is full of a real individuality that snares you and keeps you listening.

Pretty darned good, pretty darned interesting.

(8/10 Gizmo)

https://www.facebook.com/Necrofier

https://necrofier.bandcamp.com/album/burning-shadows-in-the-southern-night