Stargazer Scholar
The wind sighs, and the forest weeps, oblivious and wise. The wind howls, and the snowfall turns into a blizzard. The icy tears mourn no human tragedy; the wooden limbs feel no fleeting warmth. Slowly, painfully, an exhausted wanderer labors through endless snowdrifts. It won’t be long before he succumbs to the freezing clutches of death, but for now he trudges on, all sense of direction and purpose lost. It won’t be long before he finally lies down and stares at the crisscrosses of black crooked branches barely discernible through the shimmering veil of white. It won’t be long before the forest stares back, indifferent and majestic…
Nightside, the sixth offering by the mysterious Atmospheric Black Metal cultists Grima, once again takes us on a journey to the very heart of Siberian woodland, but this time the scenery is as stark and unforgiving as never before, and the journey itself is every bit as captivating as it is bleak.
Being signed to a bigger label didn’t affect the band’s creative direction, so do not worry: Grima the Mighty is unwavering in his determination to frostbite. The riffs are replete with the mournful Nordic grace, the melodic leads hypnotize with frosty elegance, the tremolo attacks are breathtakingly orchestral. But while remaining true to their extreme identity, the Sysoev brothers have also brought in a few fresher elements. The band’s attention to detail is taken to a new level, and the painstakingly nuanced arrangements are facilitated by Vladimir Lehtinen of Second To Sun fame, who did a great job with the mix by letting each of the instruments shine without getting too up front. The bayan, so beloved by the fan base, is prominently featured throughout the album, and the cosmic keyboards lend the record its nocturnal feeling and emphasize the sensation of a deepening night. In the vocal department, Gleb Sysoev’s ability to complement his ferocious ultrasound shrieks with the deepest growls possible will never cease to amaze. A few songs saw the addition of melancholic clean choirs as well, a familiar but welcome move.
Nightside has a curious pacing to it. It seems that the album is gradually slowing down in keeping with its topics of nature and solitude. The first half, not exactly too fast by the Black Metal standards in the first place, sees many of its tracks accelerate well above mid-pace, but the overall feeling of the conclusion is almost that of Blackened Doom (despite the occasional blast beat here and there). It is as if the whole record decided to mirror the story related in “Flight of the Silver Storm”, depicting the protagonist’s gradual surrender to the elements after the initial bravado of determination. This doesn’t hinder individual songs from having a unique identity, however, and, once I’ve learned to accept Grima’s vision, my attachment to this music bloomed like a snowdrop.
The band’s songwriting rests at the golden section of meticulous thinking and pure inspiration. The simpler, more accessible MeloBlack bangers like the swift and catchy “Beyond the Dark Horizon” are surrounded with sprawling compositions. I still found myself longing for a lengthier multi-part centerpiece akin to “Rotting Garden”, but that’s a minor nitpick. Dynamic epics like the title track tugged at my heartstrings with such force that I soon forgot about any gripes I might have had.
Overall, Nightside is a slow-burning triumph. It may take you a few spins to truly grasp the album’s grandeur and discern the diversity behind its stately pace, but that’s an investment worth making. The record excels at juxtaposing the frailty of our existence against the merciless beauty of nature, solidifying Grima’s well-deserved place in the pantheon of modern Black Metal.
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: 28 February, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/grimablackmetal/
Country: Russia
Score: 4.5/5
Metal Eclipse Reviews 