VM-UNDERGROUND

Extreme Metal Fanzine est. 2012

Latest Updates

Filter by: band
[%] - [[0-9]] - [A] - [B] - [C] - [D] - [E] - [F] - [G] - [H] - [I] - [J] - [K] - [L] - [M] - [N] - [O] - [P] - [Q] - [R] - [S] - [T] - [U] - [V] - [W] - [X] - [Y] - [Z]
Filter by: label
[[0-9]] - [A] - [B] - [C] - [D] - [E] - [F] - [G] - [H] - [I] - [J] - [K] - [L] - [M] - [N] - [O] - [P] - [Q] - [R] - [S] - [T] - [U] - [V] - [W] - [X] - [Y] - [Z]
Filter by: style
[A] - [B] - [C] - [D] - [E] - [F] - [G] - [H] - [I] - [P] - [S] - [T] - [V]
Filter by: country
[A] - [B] - [C] - [D] - [E] - [F] - [G] - [I] - [L] - [M] - [N] - [P] - [R] - [S] - [T] - [U]
Filter by: vmu-author
[A] - [B] - [C] - [D] - [E] - [F] - [G] - [H] - [I] - [J] - [K] - [L] - [M] - [N] - [O] - [P] - [R] - [S] - [T] - [V] - [W] - [X] - [Y] - [Z]

Minas Morgul- Nebelung

minas morgul- nebelung

Info

Minas Morgul is a name that has been used by lots of Black Metal and Folk Metal bands quite a bit throughout the years, whether for album titles of band names. So far when one usually think of Minas Morgul, the first thing that comes to mind is Summoning’s epic 1995 album that really helped put them on the map. The sound, artwork, and production is excellent, but back to the OTHER Minas Morgul now. It is a pretty famous name for those Lord of the Rings fans out there that side with the forces of darkness and can’t help but be impressed by the Nazgul fortress architecture. It is pretty stellar. So it is no wonder that this German based Black Metal band from Frankfurt- the OTHER OTHER Minas Morgul- decided to adopt this name, even though others from Munich have done so as well, though they are Symphonic Metal. Minas Morgul is more of a mix of Black and Folk/Pagan Metal and they’ve been doing it since 1997. 8 albums later we arrive at ‘Nebelung,’ another wintery, yet embracing album tinged with rather catchy riffs, that ripe mix of harsh and clean vocals, and more German lyricism to make those that don’t speak it scratch their head, but also take comfort that Minas Morgul are being a little bit more serious with their work than say a group like Rammstein who are more tongue in cheek, but brilliant in their own way.

For those that know of Minas Morgul’s work, the formula for this 2023 album has not really changed compared to the last one. Opening with that very Folk driven cold, Tulus style lull with violin before delving into the more Black Metal elements, ‘Beginn’ sets the album cover’s tone of a lone, unknown figure venturing through the forest (perhaps towards the Misty Mountains?). It’s foreboding, but also one of a kind as the album gets a lot heavier from here. Other tracks like ‘Nebelung’ are more your bread and butter with throaty snarls and yet rhythmic riffs and drumming with that mix of Imperium Dekadenz meets Satyricon. New vocalist Stef is ferocious and fills the shoes of former vocalist Robse pretty easily; both their vocals on the harsh side are pretty similar, though Stef’s might be slightly higher in pitch.  The music is a little on the wintery Black Metal side mixed with some Black n’ Roll, especially in the drumming, Minas Morgul are catchy and yet epic at the same time in their riff development. The clean vocal elements are also a little progressive and reminiscent of Enslaved, but do not detract from the harshness at all with the way the instruments play behind it, or when the harsh and clean vocals are layered. Other tracks like ‘Ritual’ are a little more Punk/Thrash with spoken word samples, but the overall track is more Watain attitude with a bite and less melody, though the trade of is a more anthemic, fist driving track that is very easy to get stuck in the head and difficult to get out. A little more Black n’ Roll than some might like, but the more wintery, melodic bits come back later.

For those looking for a bit of a slower, more Pagan driven piece- almost Doom laden- ‘Inter Stellas’ is a bit of a crawler. Still very Black Metal in the tone of the riffs, it is the backing synths that really make the track, thanks to new keyboard player Alboin. It is a little more like older Minas Morgul from the mid 2000s, but in no way like a filler interlude or as different as the opening track. The only track that does really come off as a filler for the album is ‘Aufbruch,’ which carries the same athemic drive as ‘Ritual,’ but the chorus is a bit repetitive with the layered vocals and overall the songwriting just doesn’t seem as driving. While it sounds like Minas Morgul are going for that epic Viking Metal feel that Amon Amarth tends to do, the band does their best to mix it up with acoustic passages and keep that Pagan/Folk element still alive in their music, as such things are only featured on about 3 of the tracks total. Overall though, ‘Nebelung’ is a strong effort that is just as good as what Minas Morgul have been doing for the last 10 years. Their music is still driving, well produced, and despite the language barrier, should be engaging on the lyric front for all Black/Pagan Metal fans alike. While the lyrics and songs are not quite on the nose for Lord of the Rings literature like previous releases, there are some winks here and there at it to keep the theme alive and not put shame to the Minas Morgul name. Those who enjoy groups like Thyrfing or more recent Watain on a less Satanic or Valahalla level will find this storm of an album a good listen.

Minas Morgul

Related Articles

Reviews