In summary, Nixil’s mission is to explore freedom in amongst all the rubbish and “the oppressive grasp of this rotting society”. The means of expression is black metal, influence and inspiration being taken from bands like Rotting Christ, Blut aus Nord and Mayhem. “From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire” is the US band’s second album release.

The sound is dirty. Through the gloom unrelenting heaviness is emitted. The progress is steady and menacing. The drum work is like a hammer on an anvil. The rasping vocals fit in with this, standing for evil and terror. “Collapsing the Poles” opens the albums and equates to a contained riot of nastiness, through which Nixil bludgeon their way. The Rotting Christ and Mayhem analogy is apt, courtesy of the soundscape and delivery. Unsurprisingly, the same atmosphere presents itself on the next song “In Thrall”. The screw is being constantly turned. The withering instrumental work conveys an aura of despair. It’s tough going. Menace is conveyed through the spoken word. It is a world of fire and flames. “A Door Never Closed” enters doomier territory. The harshness and heaviness remain unaltered. Vocally, Nixil rely on spoken passages. Such is the heaviness that whilst I detected despair and emptiness, it’s not really epic. We continue to trudge remorselessly through the cold devastation with the title song. This is atmospheric but I was beginning to feel numb. “Abyss Unto Abyss” steps up the firepower and woke me up a bit, but over its seven minute duration, which is about par for each track on this album, it tunnelled its way through admittedly heavy obscurity, firing up a bit at the end. After a series of strange noises the final track “The Way is The Grave” heads into another part of this murky world, marked by slow instrumental progress and rasping, ghoulish vocal accompaniment.

This album is true to its aims and provides a world of menace and darkness, which Nixil exploit over the six substantial pieces. “From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire” also provided me as a listener with a test of endurance as it rarely left its spooky and evil underworld.

(6/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/nixilnothing

https://nixil.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-wound-spilled-forth-fire