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NARGAROTH “Amarok” [No COLOUR REC.] 40” (2000)
Between the CDs I’ve received from No Colours Records Nargaroth is surely the more controversial to review. I should first talk you about the opener track “Herbstleyd” as it has fairly nothing to do about the production with the rest of the CD (probably because is the only quite new song-a different promo’s version- the band include in “Amarok”): the production is good still is primitive black metal with fast as well as catchy metal riffs well mixed with more flolkish parts and even obscure slow parts à la Burzum of “Det som engang var”. Wow! I was so impressed by this first song that I was willing to listen to the rest… Unfortunately, the rest of the Cd is so low quality production (as what you can find here is mostly old material) that it makes difficult to completely enjoy it. I don’t see so much the point to release a CD like this. I mean, there’re 6 songs plus a Burzum cover taken from old demo and apart from the first track, the rest is old material with a really bad production. I know these songs are mostly unreleased material but I will like to remember everyone that “old” is not always synonymous of interesting and inspired one! Sometimes it should be better it rest “unrealesed”! This is the case of the monotonous and insipid “Amorok- Zorn des Lamme Par II” and the really gloomy song “As the stars took me with ‘em” that, apart from the final and really original “ambient” part, is so much similar to Burzum material that should be easily confused with another Burzum cover! Wasn’t “Black Spell of Destruction” cover enough?
On the opposite, the extremely raw black metal sound of songs like “Shall we begin” “into the void” is a rare treasure nowadays that give to Nargaroth a high valuation but still with terrible recordings (in comparing to this Darkthrone old releases sound like was recorded in the Sunlight Studios!): I do like primitive black metal but at least I had to get the notes I’m listen to! If the final purpose was to make the listeners/media curious about a future release of this underground band, well, I must admit they get the point but I’d rather wait for listen a new CD than buy this kind of suicidal business operation (if you considerer the weak production and the ½ interesting material). Even a famous/cult band with a long and prolific career who decided to re-released some old material have to add new songs or other artifices like a special package CD to encourage the listeners to buy it! Does the label really think Nargoroth is so famous that a release like this can survive the cruel but real business rules?!? This is what I think: it should have been enough to include just some of this material (like the above mentioned songs) in a new release, nothing more easy! All the “true” Nargaroth fans will be satisfied and the rest of the listeners will have a more complete and serious way to know this interesting band. I am really looking forward for a new release from Nargaroth.



Reviewed by Lidia Buscaino