Review by Karl for Nehëmah - Light of a Dead Star (2002)
Exercises in Integrity
Being a first‑time album reviewer, I am expressly honored to invite you, dear reader, to accompany me on these initial steps of an exciting journey in pursuit of on‑line notoriety. Likewise, Corven, the mastermind behind the Chambéry‑based black metal outfit Nehëmah, staring menacingly from the adequately stylish cover art, urges us to indulge ourselves with the unholy hymns of his band's debut full‑length offering, Light of a Dead Star. My first impression of The North's 06/24 featured release is that of a good old underground black metal CD. To be more specific, the kind you may come across while inspecting the contents of a €2.99 bin at your local music store. And I by no means consider that an insult—a wealth of terrific, lesser‑known metal awaits to be uncovered in such places. Will Nehëmah's first spell turn out to be one of such hidden gems, or is it destined to rest forgotten in the depths of the underground? We shall find out soon enough.
After an introductory ambient piece, the title track begins its roar, and we are off to a good start. Right away, we find ourselves in the middle of an all‑out blast beat assault, while the vocalist introduces himself with a long, triumphant scream. Although a common trope in black metal, kicking off a record in this particular manner never lost its charm on me, and after all these years, it still gets my heart racing. Corven's powerful roars are an obvious highlight—at times, they can be seen to be clearly influenced by Nocturno Culto, but quite often (specifically when the band slows things down a bit), he sounds closer to Thyme of Ragnarok fame. Either way, that's a big, fat compliment in my book.
Despite their origins in southeastern France, the musicians opt for a distinctively Scandinavian sound, paying homage to the legendary 90s Norwegian scene. The production job sets the tone very well, bringing forward all the raw, trebly goodness without sacrificing balance and clarity or being especially hard on the ears—we even get to hear some bass action! One minor complaint I have is that the drum sound comes off as just a tad bit plasticky, which somewhat lessens the instrument's impact. The drumming itself is very enjoyable—the fills are colorful, while the kicks and blast beats are properly devastating, although it must be said that there are some extended sections of primitive, mid‑paced beats to be found. Those, I have to admit, get me to roll my eyes in disappointment, and I find myself wishing that they had opted to spend a little more time figuring out how to spark some interest in those parts. Likewise, at times, I find the songwriting a little too simplistic for my taste. There are sections I believe could use a tiny touch of additional spice—perhaps a little melody sprinkled here and there. That said, I cannot count that as a real flaw, as it is clearly a conscious decision by the band. To put it another way, you are absolutely encouraged to disregard what I just said if you have always preferred Darkthrone to Gorgoroth. Today's final bitching will concern the runtime. I am not entirely certain that all the riffs on display are strong enough to warrant the amount of repetition; I want to believe some fat loss could go a long way in helping most of the songs come out as a more focused and polished effort.
As if determined to make me eat my words, the crafty Frenchmen choose to close the album out with what might be the sweetest delight on offer and, funnily enough, it is the longest one. Despite featuring a particularly offensive Ildjarn‑style one‑two drumming, the thunderous epic Misty Swamps showcases the band's ability to use repetition as a means of setting up a big payoff for the finale. In this case, the long runtime works to the track's advantage, enhancing the emotional buildup. At last, I have to commend the band for introducing some fresh ideas towards the later half of the album. The mentioned closer sees the bass taking a more central role in the proceedings for a playful dialogue with the guitars. In addition to that, we get to experience some melodic leads and chanting (I Will Sleep with the Dragon), and a very cool eastern‑spiced, ritualistic atmosphere (Nehëmah in vulva infernum). All in all, this is a fun record that manages to keep my interest throughout all of its tracks and although it did not blow my mind right off, I can observe my fondness for it growing with each subsequent listen. If you, dear reader, prefer your black metal true to its roots—heartfelt and pure as stream waters of the freezing North—you can't go wrong with choosing Light of a Dead Star as your companion for a quiet, contemplative evening.
Check it out if you enjoy: Angantyr, Darkthrone & Judas Iscariot
Personal highlights: Misty Swamps, Light of a Dead Star, Nehëmah in vulva infernum
I dedicate this one to Daniel, our friend here at the Academy, for advice and kind words of encouragement.