Desolation

The Canadian metal scene has become one of the world’s finest over the past few years so it should not come as real surprise to discover another gem having its origin in that part of the world. Nordicwinter are a band hailing from Quebec – or maybe it would be more accurate to label them as project, with one person being responsible for everything all by himself. Evillair is the brain behind Nordicwinter and after his full length debut “Threnody” in 2007 it seemed as he concentrated on other stuff before returning in 2020 with album number two “Requiem”. In the same year we have seen number three titled “Desolation” being released as well, and while I am not familiar with the prior outputs this one is a great piece of grim yet captivating classic black metal.

There are any number of factors that could be listed to describe why this album is so excellent, but the most immediate is the record’s sheer listenability and outstanding atmosphere provided by the soundscapes. Black metal isn’t what I would typically describe as an inviting style of music, but Evillair has created a sound on this record that is both extremely hard-hitting and sinister, but still melodic. He takes care that the tracks never lose their sense of moodiness, intensity, and aggression.

You will find a lot of jarring, vicious sounding guitars, drenched in a raw yet somehow harmonic tone, machine gun tight drums and some truly arid and fierce sounding vocals, all making the five tracks (plus two instrumentals) sound oppressively harsh and aggressive, yet highly atmospheric at the same time. While most of the time staying in mid-tempo there are some great, chaotic and cacophonous moments, where the music takes a markedly more frenzied turn, providing yet more venom and viciousness to the already bleak picture. Some desperate moments lend the whole thing a depressive character at times, helping to drag the listener even more into the void. Some of the memorable melodies work as perfect contrast to the frosty nature of “Desolation”.

As far as my personal opinion is concerned I am convinced that this is one really compelling and richly rewarding black metal record. If you are looking for a record that will in equal measure excite and compel you into a head-banging frenzy, look no further than this utterly fantastic sophomore outing.

Most songs are downright infectious to experience, as the venom works its way through your ears into your brain with astonishing speed, and it’s with each successive song that this album impresses the listener. There is a lot to discover here, rewarding consecutive listens. Also the vocals might leave a lasting impression on you with their howling and desperate tone.

The production is great, giving the record a strong and transparent yet not too clean and sterile sound. The artwork is also fantastic, very traditional and for fans of the genre. As final conclusion I have to state that this might not be a genre defining work and not something a lot of people will talk about in the future. However, it is a great addition to the collection and fans of emotional and classic black metal cannot go wrong by getting one of the few copies available, so better hurry up.