There seem to be too many bands called NARGOTHROND to be counted, but this one is from Portugal and the only one I’ve really listened to. They sound quite different from the members’ main band FIRSTBORN EVIL, which seems to be the local CRADLE OF FILTH or something.

NARGOTHROND are quite the opposite, they are about dirty and mean Tolkien-influenced speed-black with some thrash in there, also represented by S.O.D. cover ”Pussywhipped” on this cassette. Drums race at insane blast and vocals (distorted almost like industrial) are a bit lost in the mess with the guitars. At first listen it sounds like they are trying to have a go at industrial black metal, but in the end it’s more basic stuff.

It’s about violence and fuck-you-attitude, this stuff, quite unlike most Tolkien-influenced stuff. The only truly grim Tolkien black metal epos I can think of now besides to this is ISENGARD’s ”Spectres Over Gorgoroth” demo. NARGOTHROND doesn’t go for the grim, wintry, ghoulish feel, this is about drunken orcs, disrespect for authority and some juvenile misanthropy. This reviewer liked better their promo ’98, possibly because it had a more intense and intact composition & performance (+ the vocal screams sounded better) that resulted in more actual brutality than all this fun-having and beer-drinking.

The childlike elements of this material are great, anyway.

© 2000 black hate