Nucleus
– Tracklisting
01.
Malstroem
02.
Theory Of Consequence
03.
The Outcast
04.
Nucleus
05.
An Exorcism Of Doubts
06.
The Obsessed
07.
To Transcend Bitterness
08.
Helpless
09.
Breakdown
Limited
digipak CD & 2LP vinyl bonus track
10.
Chasing Rainbows
Band
Members:
Magnus
Pelander – Vocals, Guitar
Tobias
Anger – Bass
Rage
Widerberg - Drums
Review:
Witchcraft
harnesses the supernatural forces of this old earth, processes them
through their cantabile mind and delivers a super sonic arrangement
of thaumaturigal divination. What does that mean? It means you are on
a collision course with a hypersonic meteor, speed balling through
the grip of the mundane, headed for landing on your doorstep in the
shape of a prismatic stone covered with crystals of sound. If that
still doesn’t make sense, just clear a path for its touch down
because this quite an arrival. If ‘Legend” turned your head,
‘Nucleus’ will spin your head completely around, exorcist style.
This
album showcases the band as more primal amped and ‘raw fish’
wired, which is a different approach compared to certain aspects of
their previous releases. Magnus has strapped his tongue into the
electric chair, energizing his vocals with a bolt of lightning, which
results in flying sparks all over the album, a defining jolt of
electro-convulsive therapy. Remember when Hetfield first sang a
ballad? Well this is the reverse, Magnus putting an old familiar
‘Dead End’ anger in with a sense of new found urgency and
succeeding on a new level of passion. Pure awesomeness.
This
band has already proved that they can write a catchy tune, and don’t
worry for this album contains said tunes, however a more powerful
strength has emerged, evidenced by the presence of more than just one
noteworthy selection that is extended in duration and polyphonic in
compositional diversity. These opuses are proof of a mature band not
afraid of widening the solid base of their original music by
broadening their melodies on a daring flight towards new and darker
horizons.
This
is a band not satisfied with the stagnant of the tried and true for
they could easily survive on their established and successful sound.
They don't play by old rules for they have access to a cerebral
pipeline that is rich with imagination. Their cleromantic toolbox
contains cargo in secret compartments, all rooted in an obsession
with art, burgeoning with bloody witchcraft manifestation. It is the
bravery of exploring new terrain that has shown the absolute radiance
of an already brilliant band. This is a band, who even after this
release, will be far from bankrupt in novel ideas in the future. As
for you, the listener, many returns will serve the dual purpose of
listening for pleasure of favorite parts and experiencing the
unnoticed sounds of other details you missed the previous spins
around, thus making it hard for you to shelve this album or stray
from this band.
The
classic era sound has survived but with an additional and most
important distinction, a reflection of something larger, which is the
expression of greater truth over the limits by a band of high priests
through their collection of songs provided in this hymnal record.
They have provided a generous, marvelous and unforgettable gift and
it is your job to find out what it means to you.
This
album is psychonomic for the avant garde and is essential for the
receptive mind. Take the dare, enter the circle and transform your
affinity for gloom. Now for the tunes…
Malstroem-
this tune starts off with an acoustic guitar and the sounds of a
flute, but this is only the forerunner to the chugs of a real pounder
that lengthens its bones and strengthens its sinew as progression is
documented in audible distorted beauty. Pure palmistry is shown
through on the guitarist’s knuckle bones and the attached movements
of fingers on the fretboard, not unlike a planchette moving across a
Ouija board, with a story to be told. This song, clocking in over 8
minutes in length, has it all..glacier sized riffs of gloom,
bombastic drums of doom and haunting phrases dispensed Magnus style.
The
next two songs, ‘Theory of Consequence’ and ‘The Outcast’ may
never see regular rotation on corporate rock radio; they may be
mandated to only underground college stations or your candlelit
bedroom, this is a shame and quite possibly the symbol of patent
apprehension immersed in senseless stupidity. ‘Theory Of
Consequence’ is a heavy song with distorted riffs, trills and a
hook made for a large squalus trolled for on a sea of uncertainty
aboard a paper canoe. ‘The Outcast’ is the perfect tune; short
and sweet, like a magical charm with irresistible pull. A
thaumaturgic classic. These songs are catchy and ballsy tracks,
however I don't know if all folks are open to the subject matter, the
uncommon instrument flare-ups or the overall difference in musical
expression.
Nucleus-This
song is an album's worth of pleasure and alone is worthy of the
purchase price. It is time to observe a heap conjured with bad
medicine emerge out of the circle you have poured with the dust made
from crushed seahorses. This is an epic song full of enchantment,
incantation and wizardry that lead one to ecstasy through vocal
spells and musical sorcery. You will know from the first listen why
this is the name of the album. This could be the title track to a
vintage horror movie, which has been hidden under the cobwebs of a
many years now defunct movie house.
An
Exorcism Of Doubts- this song alternates between certain heaviness,
well-placed vibrations and softer strums that create a state of
suspended transcendence. It weaves in and out, like a serpent in the
dark. No doubt this is a great tune. A slowed down card trick that
gains momentum and is ultimately rendered with the sleight of hand
associated with legendary legerdemain.
The
Obsessed-this is an upbeat groover with deliberate plateaus of
distorted sound. This track may suffer the same unavoidable fate of
previous tunes because of the inexperienced fortune tellers that only
care about what the people want to hear and not what they actually
need to hear, as they dine in these times of drunken satiation on the
over abundance of bottled bands that contain mostly bubbles. One good
belch and onto the opening of another empty calorie wonder with a
flashy name.
To
Transcend Bitterness- Magnus' vocals are like calcified drippings
that create stalactites in the dark caverns of your mind. He is able
to transform his voice as appropriate to the chosen topics. The band
accent the vocal passages with suitable combinations of solid and
shrill instrumentation, resulting in another huge song.
Helpless-this
track is a slow, plodding metal song constructed with crunching
riffage, soft acoustic guitar, trickles of flute and a solo that cuts
like a filet knife on soft under belly. Magnus belts it out like
Viking on a heroic fire rant. A bonafide fade to doom classic.
Breakdown-
This venture is a long and brilliant song that pushes this band into
a professional world of complex song-writing and entranced story
telling. Instruments and vocals are intellectually used to convey a
double bind helix that spirals downward into the schizophrenic path
of madness. These are the sounds of suffering, mental breakdown,
black malady, seductive witches, neurotic poetry and the possible
questions of being reborn with the knowledge that you may be sane in
a world full of crazies. The first half of this masterpiece is slow
picking orchestration, with a percussive device, guitar thrums,
distorted background flailing and Magnus’ choral cleverness. The
second half of this song slogs along with thick distortion as it
drags you through the collapse of mind with Magnus’ emotional
delivery faithfully documenting the acceptance of not so textbook
insanity. If there is a rebirth, it will be full of pain and
secondary freedom, as all births seem to be a delivery of some kind.
Chasing
Rainbows- this is a final song of tasty riffs, singing with a clasp,
all made complete with pewter feedback and a guitar/flute mutagen.
There is also lesson being taught as a dividend to the aural
enjoyment.
Witchcraft
falls into the realm of great album writers, in which the realization
of an entire album is an encompassing auditory experience. This is no
guilded lily, it is a sunflower in full bloom, trimmed with golden
gossamer lace.
Witchcraft
is the horde of lizard kings who help us understand the archetypal
power of the rainbow through their chameleonic musical prism.
So,
turn the dial up and allow the brain to simmer in the infused
creative juices. Soon you will realize you are being cooked alive,
but did you ever imagine you would taste so good? It is time for your
mind to come alive through the magic of music and realize the
immortality of Witchcraft.
Words
by Nick Palmisano
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