Negura Bunget
Zirnindu-Sa
[Breath Of Night]
I concede that this album is at least 8 months old. Apologies. I also concede the
fact that this is one of the most awe-inspiring, chillingly sinister releases that I’ve
come across, even more impressive considering that the band hails from the
Balkan land of Rumania. Scripted entirely in Rumanian text, these mavens paint
exceedingly morose and harsh atmospheres of desolation but yet wit such
amazing simplicity and minimalism that one must inevitably throw deserved
praise upon their collective genius.
Not that the added dimension of mystique of having Rumanian text hurts either. One of my favourite things about old Burzum albums was learning new German words from the elaborate prose by reading the literal translations. Employing the very same starkly naked production techniques that the likes of Darkthrone employed and rings so brilliantly on Det Som Entgang Var , they conjure up some considerable harshness and instill fear in the worshippers of the Borgir. Bearing a considerable resemblance to the likes of fellow grim souls like Manes and Carpathian Forest, but yet imbued with a harsher and darker sound than both.
Now harshness is one thing. The murky Ildjarn-ness and primitive raw strife eruptions in the album are just one dimension to this great work. Negura also manage to inject some evocative and thick atmosphere into the album with some minimal, but effective synth-work, reminiscent of Manes’ and Carpathian Forest’s use of melodic, atmospheric breakdowns, but with more consistency. While this atmosphere loops itself in well with the blood-stained barbarity, it does not compromise the harshness of the recording, instead melding with it to form a composite. It does not dominate in any way, (and thus does not make them sound like…Thy Serpent per se) but instead adds itself as a worthy item to Negura’s tight song writing arsenal.
Each song grinds along at mid-pace to slow-pace, with the occasional blast blitzkrieg. All in all, a rock-solid grim masterpiece of some epic proportion…and a solid bet that Negura Bunget will rise to dear positions of the staunchly black metal.
[8.5]
© 2000 equimanthorn
Not that the added dimension of mystique of having Rumanian text hurts either. One of my favourite things about old Burzum albums was learning new German words from the elaborate prose by reading the literal translations. Employing the very same starkly naked production techniques that the likes of Darkthrone employed and rings so brilliantly on Det Som Entgang Var , they conjure up some considerable harshness and instill fear in the worshippers of the Borgir. Bearing a considerable resemblance to the likes of fellow grim souls like Manes and Carpathian Forest, but yet imbued with a harsher and darker sound than both.
Now harshness is one thing. The murky Ildjarn-ness and primitive raw strife eruptions in the album are just one dimension to this great work. Negura also manage to inject some evocative and thick atmosphere into the album with some minimal, but effective synth-work, reminiscent of Manes’ and Carpathian Forest’s use of melodic, atmospheric breakdowns, but with more consistency. While this atmosphere loops itself in well with the blood-stained barbarity, it does not compromise the harshness of the recording, instead melding with it to form a composite. It does not dominate in any way, (and thus does not make them sound like…Thy Serpent per se) but instead adds itself as a worthy item to Negura’s tight song writing arsenal.
Each song grinds along at mid-pace to slow-pace, with the occasional blast blitzkrieg. All in all, a rock-solid grim masterpiece of some epic proportion…and a solid bet that Negura Bunget will rise to dear positions of the staunchly black metal.
[8.5]
© 2000 equimanthorn