NECROFIER
NECROFIER “Burning Shadows In the Southern Darkness”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Once the obligatory too long intro “The Fall From Heaven” gets out of the way, Texas’ NECROFIER gets down to business on “Total Southern Darkness”. The band plays an accessible kind of American black metal that sounds like what would happen if GOATWHORE and BLACK ANVIL had a demonic baby. It’s dark but tuneful...probably not nasty enough for the “kvlt” crowd but definitely leaning towards the left hand path.
They know how to write some catchy riffs and they also have an alchemical knack for mixing micro-genres into a satisfying whole. “Forbidden Light of the Black Moon” has a war-like marching feel that almost leans to IMMORTAL while “Destroying Angels” has the evil melody that GOATWHORE infuses their musick with. The vocalist surely boasts a sinister, almost whispered tone that is dry and raspy, like an ancient mummy trying to sing. “Whispers That Burn In the Dark” has the frosty touch of Olde Norway, but there is something peculiarly American about the band. Guitar solos are plentiful and almost neoclassical in approach.
The result is a flowing, generally pleasing black metal album that could attract fans from outside the genre. It’s not a blow-away piece of work, as it’s too familiar to really transcend, But few albums are in these times…