Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Blut aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab (2023)

Probably one of my all-time favourite acts, Blut Aus Nord have multiple works that I rate highly. My recent revisit to the 777 trilogy of records really cemented my belief that there are very few other artists out there able to mix multiple elements and genres with such aptitude and still tell such a stark and apocalyptic tale at the same time. Only the mighty The Work Which Transforms God probably sits above that trilogy and Disharmonium: Nahab is one of the first modern releases in a while that reminds me of that record from all the way back in 2003.

However, the true talent that any good BAN record has is its ability to fill any room that it is playing in. Disharmonium: Nahab does this brilliantly. There is always a multitude of things going on with any track on here. Haunting and melancholic melodies carve slow cuts out of the very atmosphere around the listener whilst dense atmospherics constantly plunge you into some further incalculable fathom to try and orientate yourself with. The dizzying urgency that opens The Black Vortex soon settles into some undulating and pulsing construct that lurches with some unexpected grace. Yet that opening chaos is never truly lost in the track overall, it merely gets dialed into the structure and tempered a little by the pace of the track overall.

BAN also know how to arrange an album as well. The three Hideous Dream Opus’ prove this with their creepy presence being spaced perfectly to enhance instead of hindering the albums progress. That journey is tumultuous and constantly mines the bowels of terror itself to create a dramatic and thoroughly entertaining release. Every track has its own sense of identity and character. Each one is meticulously put together to achieve maximum horrific effect, making no effort to hide the nefarious intent that lies at the heart of this release.

Disharmonium: Nahab is BAN’s finest record for some time and one that reminds me of the band in their heyday around TWWTG and MoRT back in the early noughties. It ditches the overly melodic strains of their last Disharmonium album and instead focuses on intensity and listener immersion. Full marks.