Nýr Gata "Seraphim" CD

Factory pressed CD in Jewelcase with an 8 page booklet. Limited to 500 Copies!
Co-released with Dominance of Darkness Records. Saarland black metal, with members of Immorior, Stardust..

Nýr Gata are another band from the guys behind acts like Stardust, Yarr or Immorior. This one is more on the melodic death/black side, and their debut full length “Seraphim” shows that they are capable of delivering straight-in-your-face metal which is fierce and relentless, yet also captivating. Consisting of nine songs this album is a massive roller-coaster ride, going straight for the listener’s throat.
The lead guitars are permanently pitched against the driving main riffs, lending the whole music and ultimately uplifting character. The black metal harmonies help highlighting the epic nature of the whole affair, giving the music an additional edge and lifting it above similar albums. Some clever twists and turns help keeping the songs fresh and intense. Interesting and sometimes slightly unorthodox ideas are cleverly woven into the overall sound. There is a certain melodic factor in the music, but not so much at the surface but subtly embedded into the overall sound.
Beside the spectacular guitar work also the rhythm section has to be mentioned. The drumming is absolutely precise, following the main patterns of each song and highlighting several sections where an extra portion of intensity is needed. “Seraphim” is not so much an album for showing off any instrumental wankery, although the technical level of playing is impressive as far as I can judge. However, this album is more about presenting a stringent piece of music, dragging the passive listener into a dark and melancholic world. The soundscape created by the themes in the background is very sinister and works as basement for the riffing and the hard hitting grooves. On top of the fierce instrumentation the vocals are very intense, ranging from screaming and growling to some sections done in a somewhat clean style.
The production is quite modern and packs a hefty punch. That being said there is enough rawness in the overall sound to make this record an interesting release for purists as well. The drums are powerful and the guitars have a nice and crunchy tone, and thanks to a well-balanced overall mix also the bass can be heard. With the commanding vocals being neither too high nor low in the mix the end result is more than convincing. Throw a fantastic looking cover artwork into the mix and you got a real winner.

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