Nazgul are:
Zakrathor - Vocals, Keyboards, Drums
Thornset - Guitar, Bass
Official site:
[url]http://www.nazgulmusic.it[/url]
First things first. This entire fu
cking album is sung in Latin. Secondly the musical diversity is amazing. Baroque era harpsichord pieces to raw black metal to epic war songs that sound like they could be coming from the mighty band Summoning. All in all, be prepared for something unique when you put this on.
The only flaw that people find with this album is that the vocals are strange. Indeed they are, I have heard comments like "strangled Dave Mustaine", but no matter, the vocals fit the music and grow on you. Plus they are original. So they should not turn you off. The vocals range from high shrieks to low grunts and almost like some-one speaking while the camera is slow-mo (you know that slow "NOOOOOOOO!").
The music is astounding. These guys obviously love classical music. The shorter instrumental songs demonstrate this, and if one listens to the longer epics you can also hear the influence. Songs like Legion Draconorum Orkian sound like a raw medieval epic juggernaut, a la Summoning, which is the highest praise I can give. these guys know what they're doing. Epilogus starts with a little bit too happy of a trumpet melody. No worries though, you are simply being set up by Nazgul so that when all the instruments enter you are like :-o. Keyboards give the cd it's melodies and atmosphere, bass and guitar and drums it's raw rudimentary black metal sound.
The band has themes that can relate to Tolkien (that's usually a good thing). The music seems to emulate both sides of Tolkiens world. Listen to the begining of Elficidium and you have cheery elves/hobbits. Then in comes the battery and the axes and the orcs slaughter the elves/hobbits m/. The lyrics are pretty crazy too, if you find the translations they are rather entertaining.
Bottom line, download this cd, or try and find a place to buy it (I think eBay has some of the last new copies). Fans of Viking/Pagan/Folk/Epic/Medieval Metal will love this, I gauruntee you. One of the most overlooked bands and one of the best underground releases.
5/5
Pros:
-Musical Instrumentation
-Variety
-LATIN!
-Atmosphere which is light and dark at times.
Cons:
-Some may not like the vocals...
