original lineup — with Manuel Rodriguez, Mika Mage and Serpent Ov Old
Creating an aural blizzard within which you can feel skin and senses being flayed by artic spite and stark winds, US atmospheric black metallers Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus is one of the propositions not many know of yet but should make the time to bravely investigate. Which is why we are looking at their debut album Synkkä Tuuli and the since released VäinämöinenEP. The Philadelphia band is one of the rawest encounters in intent and presence you are likely to hear at the moment but one which below its tempestuous emotional wastelands breeds a virulent intrigue which binds attention and appetite. Neither of their releases are an easy listen or kind experiences but both leave you wanting more with the thought that given the chance recording wise they have the potential to be a commanding force.
Formed in 2012, Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus was initially a trio of vocalist, bassist, and synth player, M.W.S. (Serpent ov Old) with guitarists Mika Mage and Manuel Rodriguez. A self-titled demo appeared their first year followed by Synkkä Tuuli in 2013. Following its release both Rodriguez and M.W.S. left the band leaving Mage the sole force behind the band and the Väinämöinen EP. Before then though Synkkä Tuuli drew good attention and reactions for its intensively expressive and intrusive presence which is no surprise once immersed in its sonically caustic cold and ambient frost.
The album opens with the two parts of Ylittäen Jäätyneen Pohjoisen; the first opening with footsteps through crunchy snow as wind 
bites at the senses and an increasingly brewing intensive atmosphere chills bone and air further. With rhythms urgently imposing, guitars swarm over the senses, their touch restrained but sinister and icy. Courted by dark bass lines and the haunted squalls of vocals, the track is a smothering tempest but with a melodic and drone bred seduction which tempers the corrosive breath of the piece. Shivers run down the spine throughout until a respite mid-way brings a melodic beauty and peace to the track, it’s still cold hands caressing the imagination whilst offering a sheltering incitement before a venture back into a tortuous climate within part II. The second part if anything is harsher and more destructive than its predecessor, the climate a vicious antagonist but its beauty more evocative whilst its landscape moves from being an aggressive predator to a portentous siren, danger and emotive sufferance never diminishing in the heart of the track.
The production on the album is as abrading and raw as the sounds, never giving an inch to the senses and at times almost suffocating the sculpted melodies of the songs. It is in many ways a demo quality glaze adding extra harsh textures to tracks but as shown with the wonderful Itämeri Anomalia it never stands in the way of the beauty within the release. A lone acoustic guitar emerges from a wave buffeted beach, its melancholic breath and radiance irresistible and refreshing as keys and further stringed elegance paints a skilled and mesmeric canvas,
That scenic passage is soon submerged under another pestilential storm as firstly the dulled yet appealing Anhedonia erupts across the ears to be followed by the exploration of Arktinen Välisoitto. The first of the two erodes the senses from first second to last, allowing no escape from its intensity whilst its successor opens on an acidic ambience, keys soaring gracefully through its emotive soundscape. The instrumental is delicious, an aural travelogue of emotions which again shows the craft and invention of the composing as well as that of the band members, and to be honest it is these moments where Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus really shine the most.
The release is completed by the rapacious uncompromising stroll of the title track, a song which preys on the senses with curt rhythms and toxic vocals whilst soothing them with mellow expressive keys, and finally the dark instrumental Ketamiini, a piece which is as seemingly venomous as it is radiant.
It is a testing album but a highly rewarding one, as is the Väinämöinen EP. With the band now just Mage, though he does invite guest contributions from the returning M.W.S. on bass, Lawrence Wallace (Shadows in the Crypt, Lawrence’s Creation) on keys and drum programming, as well as James McClellan Dorton III (Nightfire, Antikythera, ex-Shadows in the Crypt) on vocals, the two track release is equally as dark and sonically ravenous as its predecessor. The vocals though are allowed a greater clarity within the tsunami of intensity and sound whilst production also finds a more open presence for the songs. The title track marauds over the senses first, the cold expanses of the album revisited again but with a more intimate and precise investigation. Across the rare atmosphere and vitriolic weather of the song, bass and guitars converge in a corrosion intended union but also make their own individual frost bitten temptations for a stronger and more compelling adventure than found on the album.
Second track Yo Jolloin Han Kuoli finds the skills of Mage caressing the imagination once again, his acoustic craft and storytelling a riveting incitement which relishes the emotional colour it brings alone or within the courting of similarly descriptive keys. It is a mouthwatering close to the EP, leaving a lingering warm and thrilled impression of release and band.
If you are looking for something acerbically fresh and raw from an emerging force with the potential to blossom into a quite breath-taking and remarkable proposition, then taking a look at Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus is definitely a strong suggestion. Whether they realise their promise time will tell but you imagine it will be a rewarding time watching and listening.
Synkkä Tuuli is available now on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/store/hpgd062.html
The Väinämöinen EP is available from Infernal Kommando Records as a limited edition cassette and can be downloaded for free from http://gunshyassassin.com/news/exclusive-nihilistinen-barbaarisuus-stream-and-download-vainamoinen/
Synkkä Tuuli 8/10 Väinämöinen EP 8.5/10
RingMaster 2/04/2014
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
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Miss Lola Overture, a forty second lead into the following Tricky Dick. It is here where the release really wakes up, rhythms and a blaze of brass heralding the funk driven stomp ahead. The track immediately stomps with a rhythmic swagger courted by a great dark bass tone provided by Emmett Knox whilst alongside them the vocals dance with revelry and a welcoming enticement. With the guitars of Greg Smith and Greg Spitz teaming up with the keys of Jeff King to weave a melodic web which simply seduces emotions and appetite, the song continues its rampant persuasion bursting continuously with the trumpeting calls of Leenie Doran beside the equally magnetic flames of trombonist Pete Fanelli and saxophonist Joel Edinberg.
intrigue and attention gripped and primed for the swiftly following tangle of guitar crafted melodies, they having a ABC whisper to them, and excited percussive endeavour. It is a gentle but lively start given extra warmth by the flowing mellow vocals and occasional backing harmonies. The song strolls with relish through the ears, casting a dream bred elegance and glaze over its captivating narrative, whilst a slight Two Door Cinema Club air adds to the textured beauty of the song.
warming to the song over time it never really hits the spot, its folk touching presence lacking the creative and impacting spark which lights up the other tracks. Nevertheless with crisp beats and strolling guitar suasion, the song does swing along with the sound of summer and an engaging melodic prowess matched by the smiling vocals of Peskett. As with all the tracks there is a familiarity to the song, the band’s inspirations an open colour, but it only goes to give this and subsequent offerings an extra contagious element to their adventures.
guitar, both aspects gentle in their persuasion and gait at first. As the vocals come forward a more flaming voice emerges in the guitar strokes, their acidic tempting deliciously raw edged as they align with the smouldering harmonies which skirt the similarly heated vocal lead. The chorus brings a flush of urgency behind its melodic enticement which then switches to and fro with the previous more even tempered but fiery narrative. The song and sound is quite compelling, like a humid union of The Shangri-Las and The Fall and thoroughly absorbing.
emotion drenched squalls of Percival wail in the back ground. As expected from the band on past experiences, it is a dramatic entrance but one which regroups into a restrained and melody kissed persuasion which still retains its raw edge but seduces rather than demands attention. It is a riveting enticement, the dark throat of the bass almost prowling the senses, though without menace, whilst guitars and rhythms keep imagination and appetite busy. Intensity and energy all the time are building their intent though, biding their time until the fiery chorus where everything is ablaze with passion and emotive colour. It is a thrilling encounter which finds a band never short on invention anyway, exploring and interlocking stronger varied textures and washes of sound than ever before. The song is thoroughly infectious and evocatively poetical, Percival’s vocals providing potent and at times emotionally desperate feeling hues to further light up the whole narrative.
sound and contagion. Emerging from the ashes of The Radicts, the band sees the reunion of Todd Radict and Rodger Shosa of The Bruisers, the pair having played together in punk band Five Balls of Power in the eighties. The band opens up their contribution to the release with a reworking of an old song of The Radicts. Led by the captivating vocals of Britney Noyes which have more than an essence of Poly Styrene meets Wendy Wu to them, Everybody’s Got A Reason takes a mere breath in time to draw a firmly attentive reaction with its opening thump of beats and classic rock flavoured guitar tempting. Keeping to a controlled stride with strikes of rhythms and guitar around catchy hooks, the song makes a tasty infectious appetiser for the band’s main course, the outstanding Ghetto Blaster. A brand new song from the band, it captures thoughts and emotions right away with its old school/modern punk bait, the track within seconds reminding of bands such as Penetration, 4 Nin Blondes, and Juliette And The Licks. Riffs and rhythms surge through the ears as devilishly as the vocals; every stride leaving a coating of anthemic toxicity which builds into a virulent seduction speared by sonic endeavour and melodically crafted hooks for the strongest bait. The song is punk rock at its purest insatiable best and takes tops honours amongst four quite magnificent beasts.
the opening track Hangman, the band unveils a superbly textured and provocatively spices weave of styles and flavours ranging from seventies heavy metal and psychedelic rock to stoner and doom as well as a stirring progressive encrusted spicery. As the first song proves it is a riveting and refreshing concoction which hits the sweet spot time and time again. Song one instantly has attention at its will with eagerly coaxing rhythms framing expressive and inventive guitar suggestiveness. It is a heavy and melodically infused invitation which losing a little of its grip when relaxing into a less surprising stride, though it soon regains its potency with the outstanding vocals of Gonzalez. His voice soars and roars simultaneously, complementing and driving the sounds around him whilst his guitar, as the rhythms of Garcia, tie up any lingering doubts with anthemic arms. As confirmed by all songs, there is never a moment to assume you know the destination of a track, a thrilling jazz/funk like salsa of Latin rhythmic temptation and melodic seduction tripping up expectations towards the middle of the first song before excellent guitar craft entwines ears and thoughts.
