SAD - Total Nothingness (Regimental, 2006)

Total Nothingness is a rather tasteful attempt in producing that fuzzy, trance-inducing brand of mid-paced black where essentially that seminal Nordic coldness is interwoven with the epic melancholy of early Moonblood (and Nargaroth even). What this means is that you should expect a frugal canopy of melancholic, simple riffs protruding through a thin wall of distorted haze, seemingly devoid of audial clarity. Stylistically, this minimalist approach does not guarantee something out of the ordinary, since such endeavours have been heard many a time. The demo has its high points in exuding that dismal essence, but there are also times where musical passages become quite bland in the final outcome, lacking in energy and overall emotive explosiveness. Moreover, vocals really do need work in order for them to sound in sync with the music itself, as well as perhaps lowering them in the mix. Nevertheless on the plus side, layout and packaging is indeed of a professional calibre; nothing can beat that appealing simplicity of black-and-white when applied properly.

The demo is available through Regimental Records.

Contact: http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/thimios/ 

(originally written for Chronicles of Chaos - 28/7/2006)