This is the second album from Icelandic black metal band Nexion.
Sundrung contains 49 minutes of material for the refined listener to explore. Nexion play arcane black metal, with elements of death metal skilfully incorporated to add extra force and brutality. There’s more than just that here though. Get ready for something special.
The music is well-crafted and broader in scope than I was expecting. It’s furious and dark, but has an atmospheric presence that exceeds the norm. The death metal side of the band allows them extra leeway when it comes to their aggression too, which works well for them. Add to this well-considered songwriting that means that they cover a few different bases, and Sundrung is an album that boasts a high quality level throughout its running time.
All of the above also extends to the vocals too, I’m pleased to say. They are a mix of screams, growls, and cleans, with variation within this outside of the norm. The singer has a versatile voice, delivering a range of styles across the record, contributing to the feeling of a well-rounded collection of songs.
Nexion are a talented bunch, and a lot has gone into Sundrung. It’s diverse and layered, offering a listening experience that’s thoroughly black metal, but without being fully restricted to it, or indeed to any one form of black metal in particular. I can hear aspects of the Icelandic and Polish scenes, as well as both the second and, to a much lesser extent, first waves of black metal, and more besides. Of course, the hefty death metal side of their sound shouldn’t be forgotten either. Nexion have taken from a few different sources – related sources – to produce a record that’s very clearly a notable one. The promo blurb mentions Anaal Nathrakh and Behemoth, and although neither would be my obvious reference points for Nexion, they do actually make sense when it comes to giving a flavour of the scope of Sundrung.
There is ferocious aggression and threatening hostility, but also epic grandeur and malevolent atmosphere. There is haunting melody and stirring cleans, but also a burning rage that’s intense and visceral. There is a dissonant edge, but also a majestic one. And do you know what? There’s something that’s increasingly neglected in this sort of music – actual hooks. These are songs, not just pieces of music. Nexion have impressed.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a modern album without a rather pointless interlude, but even this works in the context of the wider album, believe it or not.
Sundrung is a potent record. It has an aura of its own, a presence that manifests itself in Nexion’s music in well-executed blackened extremity. It’s a record with obvious instant appeal, but with much to explore over time. Here is band that have the potential to go places, and they have the songs and the album to back it up. Nexion have created something notable. It’s easy to imagine them exploding in popularity, if given the right exposure. Even if this doesn’t happen, Sundrung is a wake up call to the complacency of the average black/death metal act. Yes, hyperbole I know, but I’m really impressed with Sundrung, as if that wasn’t already clear enough.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 