Groza – Nadir

Groza is Germany’s answer to Mgła. They share that traditional rawness, that sense of melancholy, and so far, no major controversies. So, it’s a more guilt-free experience (but we’re all guilty of something, aren’t we?). Album after album, I’ve watched the band evolve from a traditional Black Metal act into a more Post-Black entity. Yet, I always feel like Groza is just one step away from truly finding its own voice on the treacherous path to originality. Is Nadir the album where it finally reaches its full potential? Grab an umbrella, because it’s about to rain tears.

I’m trying to resist calling Nadir a sequel to The Redemptive End—the structure is eerily similar: track lengths, intros, interludes—they all follow that familiar formula. However, it seems the band has now fully embraced its Post-Metal side. There are numerous moments where Groza feels like it’s channeling its best Harakiri for the Sky. So, expect less aggression and more heartache. It’s the sonic equivalent of wandering through a foggy graveyard, where your only company is the persistent, lonely thoughts about the fleeting nature of life.

Can you believe Nadir is catchy? Because I couldn’t. Maybe I’ve been desensitized by years of extreme Metal, but Nadir has bursts of sheer fury, courtesy of some explosive drumming, yet it always finds room for melody as a narrative thread, keeping us hooked into this cascade of sadness. This shines through especially on tracks like “Equal.Silent.Cold” and “Deluge.” There’s a constant melodic theme holding the songs together, despite the numerous transitions they undergo. While some might call that repetitive, I think it gives Nadir a sense of cohesion. Oddly enough, the album peaks in the middle—which is rare according to science, if you really think about it. How many albums do that?

Now, onto some concerns. The biggest issue I have with Nadir is that certain sections feel bloated and could use some trimming. Do we really need that intro track? And does “Dysthymian Dreams” need that abrupt spoken-word break in the middle? Probably not. As I mentioned earlier, the Harakiri for the Sky influence is strong, and Nadir‘s final track feels like it was lifted straight out of III: Trauma . Whether that’s a good thing or not is for you to decide. Personally, I’m left thinking that with just a bit more editing, Groza could easily become the next big name in the genre.

I know some listeners were on the fence about the last Liminal Shroud release. Maybe Groza is what you’ve been searching for. Nadir is melancholic but never mellow, and while it tones down the aggression, it can still tear through your eardrums when it needs to. I didn’t have high expectations for Nadir, so I find myself more impressed than I expected. So, all the sad kids out there can rejoice—you’ve got more music to cry to. Yay!

Label: AOP Records

Release date: 20 September, 2024

Website: https://www.facebook.com/grozaband

Country: Germany

Score: No solace for you! Or 3.7/5.0