Naglfar – Téras

Five years were too long for the Swedes to release a new record. Rumors about them disbanding had been around, but I think that time was needed for settling down the dust of the “Harvest” explosion. Now, “Téras” is on the foreground and a question arises: Were all of those years worth waiting? Well, these black metal extremists are one of the most solid bands on the black metal scene and every album of theirs is a classic, without any additions or abstractions. So, “Téras” doesn’t differ from any predecessor album. It’s the same formula, with raw tremolo pickings, furious black metal riffs and cold atmosphere on the edge of the melodies.

I could just write that it’s a solid album and stop my review here. But I think that it’s good to tell a few words for the songs. The record has a very promising beginning with the grim title song and then an even more furious continuity with “Pale Horse”. Around the third song, you’re starting to think that five years were worth the wait, because “III: Death Dimension Phantasma” is a music diamond. Raw riffing is tied closely with the guitar melodies, and vocally Naglfar truly shine here. ‘Till now, “Téras”started amazingly well. With “The Monolith”, which is a pure melodic black metal song and quite catatonic in my opinion, the Swedes, remind the “Harvest” and “Pariah” era and the following song, “An Extension Of His Arm And Will” is moving in their usual style with more indicative the tapping notes, that boost extra melody in this sick masterpiece.

I will say again that “Téras” is a one-piece album without a distraction of attention. “Bring Out Your Dead” gives me this impression, but also gives the impression that Naglfar are repeating themselves. Anyway, even if I’m feeling that I’ve listened the same composition before, it’s still a good song, especially after many years of deactivation. “Come Perdition” is a classic Naglfar song, with a great alternation of raw riffs, flexible drumming and once again the vocals are distinguished too. The album may not have something unique to show off and may have a couple of “filler” tracks, but I must admit that songs like “Invoc(H)ate” left me satisfied. I don’t think that the band had ever written such a churlish song. Dirk Verbeuren, the guest drummer for “Téras”, sounds like he’s doped or something and the extremely fast tremolo pickings feel like soul rape. But even more extreme are the guitar melodies who create a frozen atmosphere. Finally, the new creation of the blacksters ends with “The Dying Flame Of Existence” with the participation of Dark Fortress’ vocalist, which moreover follows the same ways with the other songs.

After the listening of “Téras”, a Naglfar fan will surely be pleased. Maybe the band doesn’t try something different here, but they produced a classic album without change in their awesome melodic black metal music. Let’s not fool ourselves, no one wants a very good band to change their style. “Téras” kept Naglfar alive and the fans warmed up. Now the question above, can be answered: Yes, those five years were surely worth waiting. “Téras” is a capable record, worthy of their name.