Nahvalr - Self Titled [Enemies List Records - 2008]Nahvalr is the grim and dense black metal meets noise project by the two minds behind the superbly lo-fi retro goth 80’s pop meets doom project Have a Nice Life. This the projects first self titled album is certainly a complete departure from Have a Nice Life grim yet often tuneful sound. Many of the tracks here are super dense, layered up and noisy- with the sound been very sample based and murky. Mixing in; black metal guitar tone samples, layers of noise, layers of blacked screams and yells, blacked choir samples,dark and creepy dialogue samples ect- all mixing into a collision that's often difficult to untangle. As many of you know I love noise in all it’s many forms, as well as Black metal/ noise cross breed’s like wold ect- but the problem here is this often this feels too hectic, too dense and noisy. The grim atmosphere is often complete lost under the ton’s of layers of diffent sounds and elements fighting for space This does have it’s moments when the sound is more stripped and atmospheric, or the when they suddenly throw in a jarring element; which at times make you jump up out of your skin. But sadly as a whole this just felt too busy and hectic for it’s own good- with too little atmosphere and consistence. Roger Batty
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