From time to time we explore a dimension of the underground that is normally not given voice in the media: it is the whole universe of the bands from, so to speak, unconventional countries in the history of metal such as Africa, Middle East, Asia. In this review, I want to introduce you to a band from Saudi Arabia called AlNamrood. This band was formed in 2008 in Khobar and is very prolific: they have already released six albums and a number of other minor releases.
Their latest album Enkar is not very different from the previous Djali Al Joor from 2015, that is, folk / black metal with typical sounds of Oriental music, although on Enkar the folk element seems to be better integrated. This kind of contamination between folk music of different countries and black metal has become very common in the last few years. While on the one hand it is the natural outlet for bands from all over the world looking for originality and giving their own interpretation of black metal, on the other hand it seems that this type of contamination has become a common place. AlNamrood's music is not only folk / black metal, but it is also pure rage, but still I cannot avoid the impression that all of these contaminations are at the expense of impact and effectiveness. Maybe I am a traditionalist reactionary tied to a traditional idea of black metal, but, apart from Ulver and Negură Bunget, all these mingling have not proved to be very effective, in my opinion. An album like Enkar remains an admirable attempt, like others of the same kind, but black metal for me is another thing.
Notes:
Enkar was released on May 16 2017 through Shaytan Productions.
Personnel:
Mephisto: Guitars, Bass, Percussion
Ostron: Keyboards, Percussion
Humbaba: Vocals
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
Their latest album Enkar is not very different from the previous Djali Al Joor from 2015, that is, folk / black metal with typical sounds of Oriental music, although on Enkar the folk element seems to be better integrated. This kind of contamination between folk music of different countries and black metal has become very common in the last few years. While on the one hand it is the natural outlet for bands from all over the world looking for originality and giving their own interpretation of black metal, on the other hand it seems that this type of contamination has become a common place. AlNamrood's music is not only folk / black metal, but it is also pure rage, but still I cannot avoid the impression that all of these contaminations are at the expense of impact and effectiveness. Maybe I am a traditionalist reactionary tied to a traditional idea of black metal, but, apart from Ulver and Negură Bunget, all these mingling have not proved to be very effective, in my opinion. An album like Enkar remains an admirable attempt, like others of the same kind, but black metal for me is another thing.
Notes:
Enkar was released on May 16 2017 through Shaytan Productions.
Personnel:
Mephisto: Guitars, Bass, Percussion
Ostron: Keyboards, Percussion
Humbaba: Vocals
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
