BAND:NETHERBIRD (STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN)
GENRE- MELODIC, SYMPHONIC BLACK METAL
LABEL- EISENWALD
RELEASE DATE: 7/30/2021
TITLE: "ARETE"
PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG):
"INTO THE VAST UNCHARTED", 9/27/2019 via EISENWALD.
"THE GRANDER VOYAGE", 10/28/2016 via BLACK LODGE RECORDS.
"THE FEROCIOUS TIDES OF FATE", 11/29/2013 via SCARECROW MUSIC GROUP.
"BOULEVARD BLACK"/BLOOD ORCHID" (EP), 9/1/2012 SCARECROW MUSIC GROUP.
"ABYSMAL ALLURE", (EP), 12/3/2011 via SCARECROW MUSIC GROUP.
"SHADOWS AND SNOW", (EP), 8/20/2011 via SCARECROW MUSIC GROUP.
"MONUMENT BLACK COLOSSAL", 7/6/2010 SCARECROW MUSIC GROUP..
"COVERED IN DARKNESS" (EP), 12/15/2009 via BANDCAMP.
"THE GHOST COLLECTOR", 7/18/2008 via PULVERIZED RECORDS.
"LIGHTHOUSE ETERNAL (LATERNA MAGIKA)", (EP), 2007 (SELF RELEASED).
"BLOOD ORCHID", 3/25/2007 via BANDCAMP (SELF RELEASED). .
.
BEST RELEASE(S): "ARETE (2021), "THE GRANDER VOYAGE" (2016), "MONUMENT BLACK COLOSSAL" (2010), "INTO THE VAST UNCHARTED" (2019)
NETHERBIRD: "ARETE": TRACK-LISTING:
1. "AME DAMNEE"
2. "TOWERS OF THE NIGHT"
3. "VOID DANCER"
4. "INFERNAL VISTAS"
5. "CARNAL PENTIMENT"
6. "MYSTES"
7. "THE SILENCE OF PROVENANCE"
8. "ATRIUM OF THE STORM"
ITP RATING:****
PRODUCTION:****
SONGWRITING:****
PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2
NETHERBIRD are a Swedish melodic black metal band featuring good songwriting and quality musicianship
Here ITP V.021 has NETHERBIRD'S new release . "ARETE" kicking off with an ominous intro and seguing into "TOWERS OF THE NIGHT". an amazing an intense track.
"TOWERS OF THE NIGHT" shows off NETHERBIRD''S versatility as the track twists and turns with riff and time changes, while keeping true to Swedish melodic metal.At 3:10, "TOWERS OF THE NIGHT" segues into a melodic acoustic interlude and then into some black and roll with good solos.
NETHERBIRD'S "VOID DANCER" sways with a melancholic acoustic intro, beautiful and melodic as spoken words segues into melodic, mid paced black and roll.
NETHERBIRD''S "INFERNAL VISTAS" enters in epic motion, complete with blast beats, melodic riffing and good songwriting. "INFERNAL VISTAS" features a rolling arsenal of tasty rhythm and lead (picked) guitar riffs combined with epic songwriting making this track one of my faves on this release.
NETHERBIRD'S "CARNAL PENTIMENT" is another epic track, well written and cinematic in scope. "CARNAL PENTIMENT" features a variety of riffs, time changes, wandering melodic leads and wondrous solos.
NETHERBIRD'S "MYSTES" takes the listener on a epic, melodic journey as the understated and underlining melodies carry the track into an atmospheric realm.
NETHERBIRD''S "THE SILENCE OF PROVENANCE" is whirling, dervish of an opus featuring a variety of riffs and drifting melodies.
.NETHERBIRD''S . "ARETE" closes with "ATRIUM OF THE STORM", an emotive mid paced track with post rock nelements, welll written an executed and very accessible. .At 5:46, "ATRIUM OF THE STORM" swims to shore with an acoustic interlude backed by beautiful melodic guitars and solos. The very same acoustic guitar melody drives "ATRIUM OF THE STORM", with full band into the end of this epic release.
NETHERBIRD'' have progressed from raw BATHORY worship to now adding melodic (Gothenburg) influences as YES, the sound very Swedish.
Of course, melodic Swedish metal is never a bad thing as NETHERBIRD''S . "ARETE" ups the ante combining great musicianship, epic songwriting with those melodic elements, flawless in execution, Epic in scope.
If you've never heard of .NETHERBIRD do check them out, as "ARETE" is an epic journey.
ITP RATING:****
PRODUCTION:****
SONGWRITING:****
PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
NETHERBIRD: "ARETE" :