NIFELHEIM „“Envoy of Lucifer””

Music: Black/Thrash/Death
Country: Sweden
Web site: www.myspace.com/nifelheimofficial
Cool Songs: Infernal Flame of Destruction, No More Life, Envoy of Lucifer

NIFELHEIM has been carrying the torch of old school black metal for eighteen years. Their “Unholy Death” demo (1993) and self-titled full-length (1995) continued the tradition laid down by early black metal groups such as BATHORY, SODOM and early KREATOR, while adding a touch of the newer black metal style invented by Scandinavian groups such as MAYHEM and DARKTHRONE. NIFELHEIM contains former and current members of established, popular Swedish act such as DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED, NECROPHOBIC and MURDER SQUAD.

Bands like POSSESSED surely inspired artists from both the black and death metal scenes, so NIFELHEIM’s fusion of death and black metal is hardly surprising, especially considering their members play in recognized death metal bands. The group’s current offering, “Envoy of Lucifer” blends both styles as well as combining classic metal, NWOBHM and thrash passages.

“No More Life” features a drum march tailor-fitted for early METALLICA and DIAMOND HEAD. Later into the track, seemingly pulling off his best Steve Harris impression, Tyrant breaks away from the pack to lead the charge with a powerful bass lick. More Maidenisms come by way of “Raging Flames,” sounding like IRON MAIDEN during their first two albums.

“Envoy of Lucifer” definitely brings back nostalgia of the golden days of metal when parents burned Ozzy and WASP records. It has that feeling, but the group brings in death metal and black metal, pushing the older sound into darker and faster extremes. “Infernal Flame of Destruction” opens the album with swift speed countered with falling, ringing bar chords in the tradition of NECROPHOBIC. “Open the Gates of Damnation” is another track utilizing this technique, but with a slow lead over the ringing chords.

The newer black metal elements are sparse, while the early black metal style reigns supreme. Their insistantance on recording solely in analog brings back that old metal record sound. Insulter of Jesus Christ! produces a drum sound akin to early BATHORY records, but without the garbage can acoustics. His mid-paced hammerings also closely resemble early Bathory.

Diabolic laughter and grand chords open the title track in the manner of Hungary’s underrated black thrashers, TORMENTOR. Further into the track, The drums roll around, bashing into each other like two rival, Nordic tribes colliding on the battlefield, then switches to a straight ahead approach, dive bombing the listener like a horde of ravenous Valkries on the night of the Great Hunt.

NIFELHEIM is a name that has been bandied around by raw thrash and black metal fans since the early chapters of Scandinavian black metal; however, this group’s name is rarely mentioned along with other Swedish bands like WITCHERY and DISSECTION. NIFELHEIM is not one to bitch, though, unless it means an embarrassing bitch slap to posers and Jesus worshippers!

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Infernal Flame of Destruction
2. Evocation of the End
3. Open the Gates of Damnation
4. Claws of Death
5. Storm of the Reaper
6. Envoy of Lucifer
7. Evil Is Eternal
8. Raging Flames
9. Belial's Prey
10. No More Life
Total playing time 44:05

Line-up

Hellbutcher-Vocals
Vengeance From Beyond-Lead Guitars
Apocalyptic Desolator-Rhythm Guitar
Tyrant-Guitar/Bass
Insulter of Jesus Christ!-Drums