Releases That Almost Fell Through the Cracks Nattfly, Crippling Alcoholism& Wolventhrone

Metalcatto

Every now and then, mistakes are made… by the interns, of course — never by me! Isn’t that their job? To take the hit for the brand? Anyway, there have been a few EPs and albums I simply didn’t have time to cover properly, or by the time I got to them, it was already too late. So here’s my attempt at redemption!

Nattfly – Flocken: Time to give some love to my local scene. It’s hard to find Black Metal that’s neither overproduced nor recorded with a hairdryer. That said, it’s just as hard to find something that honors the old days without drowning itself in other subgenres. Enter Nattfly’s Flocken, an album that manages to strike that rare balance with decent success. The cold, pagan, and slightly disoriented atmosphere is all over the place here — I mean, what the heck is even happening around minute 24? It’s pure Folk chaos, and I had to talk about it. If you like your Black Metal raw (I’m looking at you, Ixone), but still competent enough to not sound like it was recorded in a cave with a potato, this is it.

Crippling Alcoholism – Cam Girl: I’m so late to this one, but Cam Girl is strange, disturbing, and somehow warm Goth Rock that instantly reminded me of Vanishing Kids. Its subversive lyrics and bleak, hypnotic atmosphere create something unique — something that defies the usual comfort zones of our small Metalsphere. Sure, tackling a “Cam Girl” concept feels topical and maybe even a bit exploitative, but rarely does someone turn such an ugly, real-world subject into music this haunting and captivating. It’s vile, yes — but it’s real. And that’s why I couldn’t let this one slip through the cracks.

Wolventhrone – The Siege of Sorrow’s Gate: I’ve already talked about this band before, but now that I’ve gone through the entire EP… this is pure fire. Punishing, unrelenting, louder than an avalanche — the kind of Black Metal that makes Gaerea sound like a lullaby. And that’s saying something. Yet, somehow, Wolventhrone manages to make that massive wall of noise sound controlled and deliberate. Between all the chaos, there are moments of eerie calm that make the aggression even more powerful. Despite its brutality, the EP feels balanced and doesn’t completely melt your eardrums — which is a plus. If these guys decide to release a full-length album, we’ll review it properly, just like any other band lucky (or cursed) enough to cross our inbox.

That’s it! A short one today, but these are all releases you should definitely check out before the year finally dies off. Who knows — they might even sneak onto your end-of-year list. I know some of the MER staff are going to be thrilled with these filthy little gems, but let’s see what you think. Until next time — stay in trouble, kids!