Brooding, foreboding atmosphere simply oozes from this debut album, be it from the deeply evocative and wonderfully rendered artwork or the darkly intense music held within. Entitled ‘Van de mare bereen’ and released on both CD and cassette by Thenra Collectivum, this is the very first offering from Belgian soloist Nachtmaer.
The brainchild of Flanders native Snoodaert, what he excels at is building up a sense of anticipation and then bursting forth with relentless beats, unyielding riffs and menacing growls that combine to form a wall of barren, inhospitable noise, before introducing more atmospheric elements that intensify rather than detract from the punishing, gruelling nature of his core sound. Whilst this album is rooted in second wave of Black Metal influence, the modern day production values and clear, focused sound mark it out as very much an opus that has foot in each world! I am always of the opinion that slower tracks breed more oppressive and thought provoking listening experiences, and whilst this has moments of explosive riffs and blast beats, the atmospheric undertones keep the whole overall sound mired in a slower pitch. Running through the majority of the album is a deep rooted bass style that really thrums and rumbles along in the background, not so much adding groove, rather increasing the uneasy and punishing output even further by magnifying the impact of both the drums and the riffs.
Sporting a genuinely fast approach, more bowel clenching vocal stylings and a simpler, more straight to the point sound, ‘Mijn Vlucht door de Nacht’ is the albums battering ram and stands out as different from the rest of the album, though the slow, laborious pace and grimly nocturnal ‘I Am the Nightmare’ is easily my favourite offering. Still featuring the synth backdrop and not lacking either in harsher, colder riffs, ‘Mijn Vlucht door de Nacht’ exudes confidence and power but with a great deal more attitude to its sound. The change in vocal style shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise however, as each track sports a different vocalist.
Superbly presented on cassette and in a CD DVD case boxset, ‘Van de mare bereen’ is a fabulously dark album that is stacked to the brim with ravenous, marauding riffs, unpleasant, hostile drumming and a host of duelling vocal styles. A gripping and infinitely enjoyable debut album from this Belgian solo marvel!
