Narbeleth/Indomitvs/Folter Records/2017 Full Length Review

  Cuba's  Narbeleth  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  dark,  raw  and  blasphemous  style  of  black  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Indomitvs"  which  was  released  by  Folter  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  and  dark  sounding  melodies  a  few  seconds  later  and  the  solos  and  leads  stick  to  a  very  melodic  style  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  demonic  growls  a  are  also  used  at  times  and  the  music  also  has  a  lot  of  second  wave  influences  but  also  maintaining  a  very  modern  atmosphere  and  clean  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  they  also  gives  the  music  a  more  ritualistic  feeling  while  one  track  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  classical  guitars  and  they  also  close  the  album  with  a  cover  of  Arckanum's  "Dadmellin".

  Narbeleth  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  dark,  raw  and  blasphemous  style  of  black  metal  from  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Narbeleth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark,  raw  and  blasphemous  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Distortion  Of  Life"  "Herald  Of  The  Dawn"  and  "Sinister  Laberynths  Of  The  Human  Soul".  8 out  of  10.

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Narbeleth/Through Blackness, And Remote Places/Folter Records 2015 CD Review

  Narbeleth  are  a  band  from  Cuba  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  dark,  raw  and  blasphemous  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Through Blackness, And Remote Places"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Folter  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  black  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  a  few  seconds  later  grim  screams  start  becoming  a  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  you  can  also  hear  some  morbid  sounding  melodies  in  some  parts  of  the  songs.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  black  metal  style  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  in  some  parts of  the  songs  the  vocals  get  very  angry  and  menacing  sounding  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  heavy  musical  direction  and  they  close  the  album  with  a  cover  of  Judas  Iscariot's  "Gaze  Upon  The  Heaven  In  Flames".

  Narbeleth  creates  another  black  metal  album  that  is  in  a  very  fast,  raw  and  blasphemous  second  wave  direction  and  ignores  any  of  the  current  style  to  return  black  metal  back  to  its  roots,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  Occultism  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Narbeleth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  fast,  raw,  and  blasphemous  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sons  Of  The  Grand  Cosmic  Emanation"  "The  Lightbringer"  and  "Gaze  Upon  The  Heaven  In  Flames".  8  out  of  10.

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Narbeleth interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the project since the recording of the new album?

NARBELETH, as a solo project, is a very quiet band actually. The last show I did was son june 2013 and since then, I have been recording the new album from time to time, as I have full time job and study at university at nights, so I have to choose special and determined moments to cofus only on NARBELETH, because it deserves and demands from me 100% energy and atention. Also I´ve been arranging everything for the show at Under the Black Sun.

2.You have a new album coming out this spring, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical direction of the new recording and also how does it differ from your previous demo and ep?

NARBELETH is Black Metal, nothing more, nothing less, black metal in its traditional way, so that´s what you will get in wevery release. Now, the main difference from my previous works is the sound, as now I have more experience in recording, and have better tools. BUT this not means that NARBELET will have modern, clinical sound, no; NARBELETH will remain rooted to raw old shcool Black Metal sound. Of course, you can find differences in composition, because I don´t like to repeat formulas, I just compose what I feel when I play my guitar, and that depends a lot on my psicological state and how things goes around my world. Also you can find new elements, although brief, on this album, as the clean vocals on “Land of The Heathen”or the clean guitars on “Nihilistic Propaganda”. Are new resources that add dimension to the music, as, for instance, the synth I used on “Shall Rise Again”, from my first demo “Dark Primitive Cult”, that never used on other recordings from that.


3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new release?

My lyrics are about my life, how I see this world, and how I live in it. Also I write about about antireligion, misanthropy,  Black Metal, and how I´m proud of this art and have it as important part of my life.

4.In the studio, you work all solo but have a line up for live shows, are you open to working with a full band in the studio or do you chose to remain solo?

No, NARBELETH is my vision alone, my feelings and my own spirit made music, so I will never work in studio composin for this project with other persons. I had two colaborations on the band from individuals I see as my brothers. Haitre, from the swiss band NANSIS did guest vocals on “Raw Hatred”, from my previous album Diabolus Incarnatus, and King Abraxas, my live guitarist, made the lyrics for “Land of The Heathen”.






5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

The best show to the date was at Brutal Fest here in havana, in 2012. Was a great show that I and the other guys enjoyed a lot. About my stage performance, well, I let that description to the audience.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Yes! I´m preparing to perform at Under the Black Sun next july, that´s my plan for now and means a lot for me to pe part of this mighty and legendary festival. Is the first time NARBELETH plays abroad. Tour? Well, hope to do tour some day, but nothing planned yet.

7.On the new recording you have an Urgehal cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

URGEHAL is a great band, always covered with the dust of underground Black Metal and I am a huge follower of them. Once I knew about T. Nefas death, I thought in doing my tribute to his work, so I decided to do Nyx and maybe put it on a tribute album, but then, with the offer of Folter Records to release the new album, I came up with the idea of add it on the CD. Is my tribute to Nefas, to URGEHAL. HAIL!

8.The new album is coming  out on Folter Records, how would you compare working with this label to Intifernal Records and Serpent's Eye Records which released your previous recordings/

I´ve worked with four labels previously, Intifernal and Serpent´s Eye released in tape my works, and Le Crepuscule du Soir and Metal venom Promotions, in CD. I´m happy with the result so far and they all are very honest persons. Now, working with Folter Records is quite different. Is a very experienced label and have released many recordings from respected bands. His work is complete and professional and I appreciate very much all the help and their attitude. I´m very proud to work with this label.


9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?

Bigger that what I always expected. I´ve received emails and letters from all over the world supporting my music. Is very nice to see that there are people that understand your message. Whith the signing on Folter Records this feedback has grown and that´s great, and I´ve seen people that are looking forward to see NARBELETH´s performance at Under the Black Sun, which is something amazing for me.






10.Where do you see this project heading into musically during the future?

NARBELETh will remain in the same direction. Playing uncimpromising Black Metal; that is and will be the path to follow. Hope that this show in Germany be the first of more concerts abroad in the next years.



11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays/

My music is influenced mainly by Scandinavian Black Metal like BATHORY, DARKTHRONE, ARCKANUM, and also JUDAS ISCARIOT, TORMENTOR... all these great bands. I still listening these bands almost daily, and have always been also into thrash, death, heavy, and other genres on Metal. Nothing of new core metal or nu, or gothic stuffs... that sucks. These days I have in my player, specifically CRAFT, KOLDBRANN, WARBRINGER, DARKTHRONE (always), KULT, DEMONICAL, NORTHERN PLAGUE, KAMPFAR, SKOGEN, THYRFING, SODOM, DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT, ULVER (Bergtatt... and Kveldssanger), and some early music…


12.How would you describe your views on Satanism or Anti Christianity?

I´m not satanic and I´m not only antichristian, I am against all religions, that keep men away from the freedom, the freedom of thinking, the freedom of action. I believe in the will, the will of power that every man have inside and choose to use it, or not. I believe in the strenght of man to be his own god, the master of his fate.

13.Are there any other black metal bands from your home country of Cuba, that you would recommend?

Yes they are... but few. I can recommend ANCESTOR, a great Black Metal band from Havana, now relocated to Miami, USA, with great thrash metal influences... Also I recommend UNLIGHT DOMAIN and BLACKULT, great bands.


14.What are some of your non musical interests?

I work with cultural/historical heritage. I´m interested in Archeology, Astronomy and History. I read about a lot of topics, science in general, technics, occultism, and I´m a big fan of russian combat aircrafts. Among other things...


15.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts/

Thanks for the space on your webzine. Thanks to all NARBELETH´s followers in Cuba and the world. See you in July at Under the Black Sun festival, in the woods outside Berlin!
Support Black Metal with real attitude!!!! HAIL!!!

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Narbeleth/A Hatred Manifesto/Folter Records/2014 CD Review

  Narbeleth  are  a  1  man  band  from  Cuba  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2014  album  "A  Hatred  Manifesto"  which  was  released  by Folter  Records.

     The  music  starts  off  with  a  fast  and  raw  old  school  black  metal  sound  along  with  grim  screams  and  blast  beats  with  the  album  being  in  an  early  90's  old  school  black  metal  direction,  after  the  recording  starts  utilizing  a  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  there  is  also  some  melody  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  songs while  keeping  it  in  a  more  grim  direction.

  You  can  hear  a  great  amount  of  hatred  being  evoked  by  the  music  that  is  present  on  this  recording  and  you  never  have  to  worry  about  weak  sounds  ever  coming  out  of  the  music  with  the  main  focus  being  on  true  raw  black  metal  and  the  faster  parts  have  a  great  amount  of  emotion  and  darkness  to  them,  while  the  slower  and  melodic  parts  always  keep  an  evil  atmosphere  to  them  an   later  on  during  the  album  there  is  a  brief  use  of  melodic  clean  singing  which  brings  a  pagan  feeling  to  the  recording,  when  the  album  gets  closer  towards the  end  you  can  hear  some  guitar  leads  that  have  a  more  traditional  metal  feeling  to  them  along  with  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  which  also  bring  a  depressive  feeling  to  the  music  and  the  album  closes  with  a  cover  of  Urgehal's  Nyxc.

  Narbeleth  remain  true  to  old  school  black  metal  from  beginning  to  end  with  this  recording  focusing  more  on  the  Norwegian  and  Finnish  styles  of  the  90's  with  none  of  the  modern  or  post  black  metal  trends  being  added  in  along  with  a  raw  production   and  lyrics  that  cover  hateful,  heathenism,  satanic,  and  nihilism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Narbeleth  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Total  Isolation"  "Fuck  Off!"  "Land  Of  the  Heathen"  and  "Nyx".  8  out  of  10.

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