Norway's Nidingr prove on their latest release Greatest of Deceivers that you don't always have to replicate the early '90s raw, primal black metal sound to come up with something fresh and powerful in the genre. Comprised of guitarist Morten Iversen (also known as Teloch, who has spent time with Mayhem, Umoral, Gorgoroth, 1349, and Ov Hell), bassist Blargh (Dodheimsgard), vocalist El.Cpt.Estrella Grasa, and drummer Øyvind Myrvoll, Nidingr welcome death metal, doom, crust punk, and post rock into their black metal stew, giving the album a varied and hard hitting feel. Don't expect a non-stop assault of blast beats and furious riffing, as the band go more for textures and colors rather than blinding, ferocious speed and brutality. Not that Greatest of Deceivers isn't plenty brutal in spots, it certainly is, but there's an air of subtlety and nuance, best heard in the title track and "Dweller in the Abyss", that sets them apart from so many bands currently out there delivering black metal. Check out the churning, complex riffery on "Mother of Abominations" or the avant-garde arrangements of "All Crowns Fall" to really see all the tricks they have up their sleeves. "O Thou Empty God" mixes death metal and crust punk for a rampaging, toxic brew, and "The Worm is Crowned" contains some crushing, yet melodic riffs and lead lines along with Grasa's anguished screams.
If you love black metal, but have gotten tired of the endless parade of symphonic/atmospheric bands or classic era clones, Nidingr have something different to offer in the form of Greatest of Deceivers that you should certainly check out.
Track Listing
1. Greatest of Deceivers
2. All Crowns Fall
3. O Thou Empty God
4. The Balances
5. Vim Patior
6. Rags Upon a Beggar
7. The Worm Is Crowned
8. Pure Pale Gold
9. Mother of Abominations
10. Dweller in the Abyss
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