Y’see, now I just feel stupid. There I was, blathering on and on back in 2020 about how Nightmare’s new vocalist was a new beginning for the band, that she was such a great find and with her in the ranks the band were set for a bright future. And what do they go and do? They go and get another new singer. Well, thanks a lot guys, It’s not like I need anyone else’s help to make me look stupid…no, wait, I think I need to rephrase that…
Moving swiftly on, the noteworthy thing is, although Nightmare seem unable to keep a vocalist for more than one album latterly (4 different vocalists on their last 4 albums), it hasn’t stopped them growing and evolving into a Metal force to be reckoned with. And put in perspective, yes the band have had something like 9 different vocalists, but this is since they were first formed back in 1979! An important key to Nightmare’s evolution is that they don’t sound like a band from back in the day just going through the motions. They have an intense, modern, in-yer-face Metal style that is both timeless yet bang up to date and this has certainly continued with “Encrypted”.
So it’s a big warm welcome to new vocalist Barbara Mogore, continuing Nightmare’s latter-day leanings of having a female vocalist to push their style forward. Immediately, the initial step-up on this album is how Mogore’s powerful, diverse style, has enabled the band to deliver their heaviest and most aggressive album to date. Mogore adds some harsh vocals into her impressive repertoire as the riffs and rhythms pummel and pound. There are vocal hooks, there are memorable guitar lines, and there is no denying that there is plenty of power.
Tempos vary, but the intensity remains high as Nightmare thunder from one blistering arrangement to the next. They showcase rumbling Power Metal, pounding Heavy Metal, intricate Speed Metal and even some moments of Melodic Death Metal on their journey through an album that spits angst. Ballads are left to other bands as Nightmare rage forward over 10 tracks (including a justifiable re-recording of 2009’s ‘Eternal Winter’ – and with a back catalogue like theirs, why not do a cover of your own song!), utilising just enough melody in both the vocal and guitar to carry the songs and draw you in, whilst constantly backed up by wonderfully unrelenting heaviness.
So no, I’m not doing it this time. This time I shall simply state that this current line-up (with ever-youthful founding bassist Yves Campion at the helm) have delivered a great, heavy, modern, impactful Metal album. The vocals on this album are excellent, but I’m certainly not going to comment on the bands future with said vocalist, though I do hope this time it will be a lengthier one. And I will say that given the varied, confident performance Barbara Mogore puts in here, she would certainly take some replacing! In the end though, it must be rapturously applauded how Nightmare continue to grow, how they continue to push and continue to write top-notch, high quality Metal songs, of which “Encrypted” is absolutely packed with.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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