Groza – Nadir (Review)

Groza are a black metal band from Germany and this is their third album.

I’ve been hearing good things about Groza for a while now, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to check them out. Nadir brings us 43 minutes of modern black metal, and it’s all very good, let me tell you.

Groza’s music contains elements of the atmospheric, melodic, and post-black metal styles, all tied up with good songwriting and a professional sound. For a rough starting point, think a mix of Gaerea, Harakiri for the Sky, (also a guest on Nadir‘s final song), and Uada.

The music is expressive and textured, bringing together its influences well. There’s a blackened fury here that’s compelling as Groza unleash their dark aggression on the listener. The band know how to temper this raging heart with melody and atmosphere though, as well as post-blackened colour, making for songs that have depth of appeal.

Groza’s use of emotion and mood-building is engaging. These songs deliver melancholic darkness with emotive power, crafting soundscapes that are more affecting than those of your average black metal act. To this end the melodies play an important part, but it’s not purely about the melody; the songwriting is focused on what the band want to portray, rather than simply collecting together groups of riffs for the sake of it. There is a holistic vision at play here, and it’s well-executed.

The songs unfold with a strong presence, yet only fully reveal how potent they are over time. It’s a satisfying record to listen to; it feels holistic enough to gel together nicely, while also providing enough personality in each individual track to hold your attention. Nadir is a well-written, well-performed, professionally crafted album. It benefits from the clear passion of Groza and the feeling-rich nature of the music that they have put together.

I really enjoyed this more than expected. Nadir is a strong record that keeps on giving. Groza have impressed, and I can see why many hold the band in high regard. If this sort of modern black metal appeals, then you’d be well-advised to spend some quality time with Nadir.