Release Date: April 14th 2023. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD
Najing - S/T: Tracklisting
1.Melancholia 08:19
2.Nerocolore 05:54
3.Death In Slow Motion 07:13
4.Fire Walk With Me 08:02
5.Sedna Aphelion 05:38
6.Violet 12:20
Members
Andrea Turini: Guitar
Marco Neri: Bass
Marco Di Chiara: Drums
Review
Instrumental Doom/Post-Metallers Najing debut self-titled album takes the Post-Metal template first laid down by bands such as Pelican and Russian Circles but gives it a more Doomed Out and Sludgier perspective with the heavy sludgy grooves that operate here. The album is quite progressive from start to finish and allows Najing to play a more expansive style of music.
The instrumental work is always buoyant and intense with Najing firmly within the mid-2000’s era of Post-Rock/Post-Metal. The atmospherics have an earthly Spaced Out flow to them which is used superbly well on the haunting opening song Melancholia. The song is beautifully complex to listen to with the multitude of different Ambient Post-Whatever styles Najing play with a fearless attitude.
Second song Nerocolore is more of a straight up banger with a Doom Metal style of music that allows Najing to be that ever more chaotic with their creative choices. The instrumental work has a “choppy” feeling to the track which allows Najing to add different “AMBIENT” flavours to the mix.
Third song Death In Slow Motion moves along at its own “BEAT” with Najing leaning heavily on early-era sounds of the Post-Rock/Post-Metal scene. The track does take time to find its own creative groove but when Najing slows the mood right back and offers a more stripped back or back to basic approach then Najing play their own sound. There’s a wicked DRONE aspect to this track with elements of bleak DISTORTED sludgy grooves that become more of an Industrial based sound then Post-Metal but it works surprisingly well. This allows this track to be one of the standout tracks on the album.
The second half of the album becomes more gloomier and one of despair with Najing opting for a stripped back Psychedelic and Ambient approach with their music. Perhaps, not as heaviest or as direct compared to the first half from your first listening to the album. However, Najing offer the most interesting and creative choices on this part of the album. There’s a more “world-weary” attitude to Najing especially on tracks Fire Walk With Me and Violet.
Fire Walk With Me and Violet are the other standout tracks of the album with Najing becoming more daring, progressive and playing the heaviest grooves on the album. Violet is a masterclass in Modern Day Post-Metal. As the song conveys so many moods along with the intense music Najing has created for this track alone.
Najing’s debut album is a winning collection of emotionally charged tracks that offers an exciting blend of different styles of Instrumental based Doom, Ambient, Post-Rock and Post-Metal grooves to lose yourself in.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotions PR and Najing for the promo.
Najing self-titled debut album is available to buy now on CD/DD via Argonauta Records.
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