The Negative Bias – The Seven Seals of Saligia (Review)

This is the third album from Austrian black metallers The Negative Bias.

I’ve never encountered a full album by The Negative Bias before, but I really enjoyed their 2018 split with Golden Dawn and 2021 EP Tapeworm Pyramids,  so I jumped on the chance to explore The Seven Seals of Saligia.

The Negative Bias play a charismatic form of black metal, rich in occult atmosphere and cosmic splendour. The band showcase their particular talents extremely well on The Seven Seals of Saligia, and it’s a compelling journey across 49 minutes that the band have crafted, (this includes a short intro that was included in the promo, but doesn’t seem to appear on the official tracklist, for some reason).

For a rough idea of what The Seven Seals of Saligia delivers, think of a mix of Mayhem, Batushka, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, and Nightbringer. The Negative Bias are their own entity though, and The Seven Seals of Saligia has a dark presence all of its own.

The Seven Seals of Saligia offers an immersive experience for connoisseurs of the dark arts to explore. It’s a textured release that contains a range of expressive elements, from fiery aggression to introspective soundscapes. The band’s approach to songwriting is one that combines a forceful direct assault with a secondary layer of mood-focused atmospheric depth. Atmospheric black metal, post-black metal, avant-garde, and monastic folk elements all get their time to darkly shine, making for an album that has a lot to offer. The vocal delivery is as diverse as the musical influences, with the band’s singer giving a sterling, varied performance throughout.

Well, my first full length from The Negative Bias has not disappointed. The Seven Seals of Saligia carefully balances blistering blackened aggression against a multifaceted atmospheric expression that’s absorbing and moreish.

Very highly recommended.