To the Nameless Dead

The Irish kings of all things grim and dark, Primordial, offered the world their sixth opus in the early days of winter 2007. To The Nameless Dead, a powerful breath of melancholy, sadness and hope is nothing short of a classic. For fourteen years these Irishmen have been releasing state of the art black metal and their latest is yet another proof that they will never give in their music to labels, the public or critics. They’ve always been true to themselves and their roots and that is what makes them the giant that they are.

To The Nameless Dead is the rightful follower to The Gathering Wilderness, not because of their similarity in atmosphere (in fact there are almost none) but for their profound emotional strength. Primordial as always been very passionate about their music and how important it is for them that the songs they write reaches their culture and land. Not unlike Storm Before Calm, their latest album speaks equally of despair and pride and its melancholic overtones are always accompanied by strong and powerful melodies. The songs have each their personality and although the album, like all of Primordial’s work, is to be regarded as a whole, it is difficult not to take this record piece by piece.

The musicians of Primordial are at the top of their game and they have been working together for over a decade. These two elements are enough to explain the tight, perfectly executed musicality of this release. I will not praise their talent, it is known. As always, Primordial is folk without folk, music that sounds distinctively Celtic even though they do not use any folk instruments or choral chants. For all I know, Primordial is more Celtic than all the Cruachans of this world. To The Nameless Dead is a heavy album, probably the band’s heaviest to date and it is as atmospheric as it is epic. The songs all speak of nationhood and the strength in man when faced with death. The music can be regarded as progressive, and few songs follow the verse/chorus/verse pattern. I could delve deeper into the technicality within the music but I don’t think this is how this album needs to be reviewed.

One last important point is A.A. Nemtheanga’s performance. He already has a strong reputation, this we know but, on this last album, he simply proves that he rightfully deserves to be right up there with the best of the best, those that become legend. His performance on To The Nameless Dead is as passionate as it was back in the days of Journey’s End but it is improved by a decade of learning and amelioration. This is the best vocal performance I have ever heard, full of passion, melancholy and anger.

Highlights will not be listed, the whole album is one. Would someone name highlights on Paranoid? Primordial is one of those bands that remind us that metal is not dead, that there are still people out there who have something to say, to share. They have never sold out and never will. When listening to Primordial you listen to music that is as pure as Death’s, Burzum’s or Windir’s. I had very high expectations regarding their latest release and they have all been surpassed. This is their best to date. This album is the best of 2007. So go and listen to this album and if you don’t like it, it’s because you don’t understand it.

As A.A. Nemtheanga said and I quote: No compromise. Not then. Not now. Not Ever.