NettleCarrier

Norwegian black metal act Nettlecarrier formed in 2004 and then proceeded to wait three years to release their first material to the world, a single entitled “To Strangle the Hero of Heaven” in 2007. Finally, in 2012, after an inactive period and hiatus, the band unleashed their first proper release, the eponymously titled full length “Nettlecarrier”. The members of Nettlecarrier have been involved in some prolific and well respected black metal bands throughout the years: Koldbrann, Urgehal, Ljå, Djeval, 122 Stab Wounds, Enslaved, Aura Noir, Gehenna. It should be no surprise that Nettlecarrier’s music is professional and makes one hell of a good a black metal album.

Much like their black metal revivalist countrymen, Beastcraft, Nettlecarrier stays securely in the realms of standard second wave influenced black metal, with little to no extraneous influence from other sub-genres. Nettlecarrier utilizes a slightly more chaotic approach to second wave black metal than recent revival acts like Dødsfall and Beastcraft, actually having quite a lot in common with Swedish contemporaries Watain. At face value, the music on “Nettlecarrier” is a rather primitive and simplistic affair. I know that the adjectives “cold” and “grim” are thrown around a ton, but for once I feel they tend to fit, as the music is scathing and relentless.

The majority of the album sees guitarist, Ciekals, playing fast tempo trem riffs. The riffs and quasi-melodic wanderings scream “Sventevith” era Behemoth. The trem riffs are faster and rarely let up the breakneck speed. With the guitars firing on all cylinders for the majority of the release, the scant slower slash doomier passages sound even more ploddingly slow, with carefully selected power chords floating in the forefront. Even when the slower power chords are on display, a lead line pops up in the rear with a hammer on, pull off lick that recalls “Black Thrash Attack” Aura Noir, which is actually quite fast, especially when added on the tail of a drawn out power chord. The chaotic trem riffs rarely do relent though, as the slowed down sections are rather rare.

The same thing can be said for the rhythm section: it rarely lets up. The drums, while nothing spectacular or outstanding, are fast and relentless: constant double bass running or blast beats. The only time the drums slow down is when the guitar lines slow into a doom like section and even then there are some rolls and fills blasting away. But then again, drummer Dirge Rep, has been involved with tons of black metal bands, so he knows his way around the drum kit. The other half of the rhythm section has some pretty pronounced bass lines that wander around the fret board, but for the most part relegates itself to a back seat role. When the bass lines do stand out, they seem rather cartoony to me, with a lot of spring in the notes while still managing to sound somewhat flat.

The vocals are pretty standard affair. They’re not in the anguished scream department nor are they in the seething, pissed off rage department, instead falling somewhere in between. The vocals are deeper than most Black Metal singers and have the trademark raspiness, similar to Marduk’s style of vocals. The vocals tend to get absorbed into the fast guitars and drums and just kind of exist, without being a glaring setback or a positive.

Production levels are excellent. The guitars retain a primitive feel throughout, which is probably due to the tone sounding very old school and Celtic Frost-ish. The cold atmosphere is also due to the production, which is, by far, cleaner than lo-fi bedroom bands, with a fair amount of fuzz and muddiness to keep a vintage feel. The relentless guitar and drum attack can become a little monotonous with repeated listens, but the short, thirty-eight minute length of the album keeps this from becoming a huge issue.

It’s honestly refreshing to hear a band play a style with no gimmicks or compromises. Nettlecarrier plays black metal: plain and simple. If you dig any of the revivalist bands of late, then you should get this. Despite a few minor qualms, this is great black metal album. This is recommended to fans of Watain, mid-era Darkthrone and early Behemoth.