Primordial – To the Nameless Dead

Posted by douchemike on July 13th, 2008 filed in Black Metal, Heavy Metal

Primordial at myspace

Primordial cut their own path through the overgrown wasteland that is pagan metal that much is certain. Coming from the Dublin Black Metal scene in the late 90’s they have created their own unique take on a genre that is sadly succumbing to being a travelling freakshow for the Trivium generation. Where certain unnamed “pagan” acts like to frolic with comedy costumes and harebrained peons to “oh so metal” clichés older than the gods themselves, Primordial set out a deadly serious yet earnest and passionate direction for the genre to migrate towards.

There are no clichés on “to the nameless dead” and there is nothing (apart from the other Primordial albums) like this in metal but yet is also seems so straightforward and seemingly obvious now that someone has actually written an album in this style. Yes, it is true that Primordial’s roots can be found in Bathory’s Viking period, the best heavy metal albums of the 80’s and even the dreaded O word, but this is something that evolved beyond those past moment yet keeps in touch with the timeless spirit of the glory days of metal from the 70’s to the 90’s.

All the songs on this album run along at an atmospheric and foreboding mid-pace that allows for a sense of tension that like all good catharsis is in a definition a chore, but a glorious one that you will undertake time and time again. Each song is underpinned by a powerful melody that is melancholy, wistful, melodramatic and brimming with pride all at the same time without being pompous, hackneyed or dreary. Each riff and lead builds upon the central melody of the song and constructs a musical journey that both haunts you remorsefully, and stirs up dormant longings for a lawless yet passionate Europe that we will never fully understand.

Alan Nemtheanga’s unique vocal style also impacts positively upon the overall quality of this album. His clean vocals that are somehow reminiscent of Quorthon and Ian Astbury at the same time are immensely impressive in both their range, and Nemtheanga’s rendering of the passionate feelings that are found in his lyrics. Never has there been a vocalist in metal who could so persuade you to his point of view with a simple inflection or even just a few soaring notes. His Black Metal style rasp occasionally comes into play, and the interplay between his two styles is a joy to behold.

There’s only one word you can use to sum up Primordial; Passionate. This is metal that truly believes in the message behind the music, and has such conviction it can easily convince most learned metal connoisseur’s of that message too.