Nergal- Blessed

 Ah, Greek Black Metal... 

There are 2 types of black metal coming from Greece. One is just basically Greeks doing Norsecore-style Black Metal. and the other is a truly interesting, original and regional style. This second style starts happening in Greece right around the same time as the Norwegian style crops up. Yes, bands like Varathron, Rotting Christ and Necromatia are as old, if not older than, their Norwegian counterparts.

I fell in love with this stuff because I got Varathron's "His Majesty at the Swamp" as an alternate in a mail order for underground metal. It really was wildly different from the Norwegian and American bands I was discovering at the time.  The Greeks were adept at forging darkness into a sonic weapon but they did that by welding more traditional heavy metal riffing onto a morbid midpaced sound still using the same crazed scream many bands at the time were employing. It sounded akin to Bathory meets Manowar. It was brilliant. 

Like many of these regional scenes, the old guard walked away from this into more normal styles of metal, disappointing me and others who love this style. Well, one of those old guard has resurfaced with a surprise new record. What does it sound like, you may ask? Is it disappointing like the others? Well, let's find out.

From the opening riff of "Echoes from the Shadowpath", you know what you are in for. Morbid and dark but built on the backbone of glorious traditional heavy metal riffs, this record is a dark and headbanging worthy return to the early 90's Greek Black Metal sound. The riffs are hard hitting, the bass pummels you in the face and drums are beaten within an inch of their lives. All the while a tasteful ambient keyboard floats over the entire affair adding just the right amount of drama ro the proceedings.

Mild atmospheric moments occur throughout the record. There is an acoustic part with a whispered spoken word section in the title track, "Blessed", that gives the listener some breathing room  before diving right back into that stellar, headbang-worthy riff. This record truly reminds one of the glory days when Black Metal was both Black and Metal. 

At six tracks, this record is short sharp shock or raw and riffy Black Metal goodness and I can't praise it enough. All six tracks are highlights and it would do you good to check out the entire album, if you can locate it. Either way, its fantastic and I hope for more music sooner rather than later.

Thanks for reading, all! And Check out Nergal at the social media link below. As you can tell, we are rolling through so expect more  reviews soon! Bang the Head the doesn't Bang!

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