Death from the North

Nightside - “Death From the North” 2024

Nightside
“Death From the North”

Origin: Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland

Genre: Black Metal

Label: Purity Through Fire

Obscurity it seems is a comfortable home for the true black metal band/artist. Over the years, Suomi has proven to be a provider for such a home as evidenced by its fertile underground scene. Obscurity is the true black metal way! Whether you’re renowned but choose the underground as your haunt like one Satanic Warmaster, or whether you’re of the cult variety like Nightside, to become mainstream is a sin. These artists/collectives are vital to the genre, after all, if black metal becomes pop, then it ceases to be black metal…

Finland’s Nightside formed in 1996, but wouldn’t release their debut LP, “The End of Christianity”, until 2001. Two years later, the band effectively split and the project wouldn’t again see the light of day until 2021 when two of its original members reformed the band. In 2022, a revamped Nightside recorded their “Lion” demo and released it in 2023. Now, Nightside, by the light of Lucifer and under the seal of his divine chalice, are set to unleash their second LP, “Death From the North”, on May 24 via Purity Through Fire.

Frigid and frosty black metal through and through. A fitting title for such an icy slathering of true Suomi black metal. Reminiscent of the late 90’s when the Finnish movement began to sink its fangs into the flesh of the European scene, yet gleaned by crisp and modern product. Not too crisp! Just fucking right… A full lineup of musicians here as opposed to the billion soloists and duos out there. No easier softer way for this band and their collective talents shine through compositional specimens: the titular cut and “The Crumbling Tower” providing a clinic for the listener as we’re met with a myriad of unique tremolo riffing techniques and complex paradiddle-driven blast-beats. And the atmosphere? Alive with a ghostly ambiance that evokes images of great summonings performed under frigid moonlight. Great spirits of yore streaming in sync with each fluid progression.

Midway through an epic is unveiled in “There Won’t Be Another Dawn”. A haunting intro birthing an onslaught of ethereal atmospheric elements and more of those dynamic riffs set to magisterial cadences: finesse and power, synergy and pronunciation - a dominating performance. All of these superlatives achieved, but somehow without straying from the true BM blueprint. “Dying Sun”? Pure perfection. Nightside really allow for the atmosphere to captivate the taker in as a more segmented approach to riffing is explored; martial rhythms to solidify every savory passage. A thrash-driven closer - “Solitude” - rhythmic chugs during the intro give way to a Dissection “Unhallowed” reminiscent flurry of riffs and beats. A tour de force display of talent on all phases.

A gem! Tucked within the sanctity of the underground for only sages of the genre to uncover; just the way it should be. The excitement of those early days of the scene brought to life. I guess you can say that we need the Immortals, Satyricons and Dimmu Borgirs of the industry, but for genuine BM enthusiasts, we know where the real action is; right here beneath the surface. A special thank you to Nightside for such a brilliant return-to-form. A perfect record from top to bottom: important, viable and authentic. Bravo!

10/10

Experience the titular track rough mix to “Death From the North” right here as presented by Purity Through Fire”:

https://youtu.be/b_9SR1B2J6I?si=lRijlCbLGwtIdwoN

~Jeger