Brutalism

Familiar with the slogan ‘From Russia with love’? Hah you will change your mind right after you smash your head with this Russian Panzer!!!! And I really mean it!

The Nebelwerfer ("Smoke Mortar" literally "Fog thrower") was a World War II German series of weapons designed to deliver chemical weapons. (sources: Wikipedia)

The name fits 100% with what the band has to offer us, however before I go on, it is important to note that although WW2 sampling are present in their music, it doesn’t mean the band is NS! Nebelwerfer’s concept is simple and straight: Hate, Torture and Death! Nothing more, nothing less!

Right! Russian Nebelwefer is not a new outfit; however their 3rd album ‘The Spirit of Violation’ is definitely a remarkable release that could leave a stunning impact in the brutal side of (Militant) Black Metal, enough to say that their quality of performance makes this talented band to stand above all other likes of this sub genre.

The starting song (‘Diktat’) starts with a classical militant march music that suddenly engulfs into everlasting barbarity…just like getting a punch straight to your face. This song besides having a barbaric side, it has more than meets the eye (or better the ear) as sampling, classical bass and synths are used to enhance this fine track. These tiny features are evidence that Nebelwerfer is not a mere brutal black metal band like the majority!

Generally speaking, this band performs a dynamic consistence of old school Black Metal mixed with the brutality, speed and technique of Death Metal. The songs of this album are quite diverse in their tempo and besides being a 100% extreme band, there is a sense of structure, concept and expression that fits well with their lyrics – something that is hardly found in other bands of similar subgenre! There is a purpose behind their brutality! Most remarkable is that besides straight forward brutality, a degree of melody and harmony together with occasional deep sounded synths accompanied by some ‘industrialized’ sampling are nevertheless present thus helping their music to have a boost in the ‘level of expression’. When taken from a holistic point of view, every kind of sound and noise comprehends with one another, and this will let the listener not only to enjoy this album, but to end up becoming a Nebelwerfer-addict!

Songs like ‘T.S.K’ and ‘The Grand Torture’ for example contains a vast array of dispersed elements like chunky Doom/Death Metal riffing, drums’n’ bass performance, deep background synths, sound sampling of ammo inserted into guns, dirty sick whispers, harmonized (on purpose) guttural voices and so on. The song ‘In the Shining of Omega’, despite the merciless brutality there is a degree of tempo variation and a good use of both lead and backing vocals shifting from one speaker into another.

If to make a brief comparison with other bands (for better understanding), just imagine the tight and fast drumming of Lost Soul (the Polish Death Metal), together with the Militant Barbarity of Antaeus, Marduk and Infernal War (PL). However, that’s not enough to conclude, since Nebelwerfer added synths, and militant sampling throughout their music! The best thing to do is simple – to grab a copy of that CD straight away.

‘Spirit of Violation’ is professionally mixed/recorded and comes with a professional semi glossy package.

And to conclude here:
5/5 points for their dynamic performance
5/5 points for the degree of experimentation while staying true to Metal
5/5 points for making an addictive and never tiring album
5/5 points for delivering a mature approach towards the sub genre of Brutal Black Metal
5/5 points for abiding with concept rather than just non sense brutality
5/5 points for the tight drumming, and the never neglected bass lines

The Brutal side of Black Metal has conjured a new Master, and this is no one else than Nebelwerfer from Russia!