Metalcatto
I’m no Nargaroth expert, but I can recognize an OG Black Metal band when I hear one. That said, my expectations for this kind of sound are modest at best. Apocalyptic Steel couldn’t have a more traditional name. So obviously this thing is going to be edgy, consistent, and noisy, right? My only hope is that the production sustains some level of decency, but maybe that’s asking too much in this case. Let’s find out.
Okay, so this is exactly what it looks like: Old School Black Metal from the icy woods of some country where people have free education and healthcare. However, I’d give Apocalyptic Steel credit for at least attempting some variation. The melodic work is better than average, and the guitar lines occasionally rise above the usual tremolo monotony. Extra point: the album blends the line between homage and satire kind of well. Let me explain.
The tracks explore different subjects key to the subgenre: Satanism, alcohol, war, other Metal bands—this was particularly funny—and historical revisionism? I really hope that’s not the angle, but it’s hard to tell. Then again, that’s always been part of the charm of old Black Metal, right? Are our favorite musicians pro-genocide, or are they just complaining about strategic bombing campaigns? As you can tell, I’m complicating this way more than I should. Let’s return to what’s even less appealing about the album.
Alright, so the production doesn’t totally suck—that’s true. But is it me, or are the vocals just too loud in the mix? I struggled to find the drums at times beneath that brutal shrieking taking over. This is one of my weirdest issues with an album ever. On the other hand, there’s not that much new here. The album might be almost funny in how “circular” it is thematically, but in practice, it’s just another love letter to the old Bergen days. The riffs are predictable, the structures are familiar, and the whole thing feels like a comfortable pair of worn-out boots.
You know what to expect now: consistent Black Metal with lyrics that for some reason humor me, but still fall into a lot of the genre’s tropes. If you’re a Nargaroth fan, this might work for you. If you’re looking for mind-bending creativity, you better keep looking somewhere else. Okay, that came out harsh. Oops. But harsh doesn’t mean untrue. Apocalyptic Steel delivers exactly what it promises: nothing more, nothing less. Whether that’s enough for you depends entirely on how many times you’ve already taken this exact trip through the Norwegian woods.
Label: Season of Mist: Underground Activists
Release date: June 26th, 2026
Website: https://nargaroth.bandcamp.com/
Country: Germany
Score: 3.0/5.0
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