This is the sixth album from Finnish black/death metallers Archgoat.
At this point Archgoat have been around for a very long time, but a new record still causes many people to sit up and take notice. Which leads us to Nightbringer, Lightbringer. It’s Archgoat, but expanded somewhat.
Nightbringer, Lightbringer is an onslaught of vicious black/death metal, an apocalyptic hymn to devastation and cruelty. Yep, on the surface of it, Nightbringer, Lightbringer offers up a whirlwind of caustic venom and ice-hard brutality. Dig deeper though, and there’s more here though than you might expect.
A pointless intro starts things off, but after that we’re into the good stuff. Across the album a range of paces are used, and although the songs are all dark and violent, there are various infernal shades painted in.
Much of the songs are blunt and ugly, but there’s no denying their barbaric effectiveness. The core Archgoat sound remains nasty and abrasive, but on Nightbringer, Lightbringer they have fleshed out their sound somewhat. It’s primitive, but filled with a certain strain of spectral grandeur that’s surely seeped in from some forgotten Hellish underworld. In effect, Nightbringer, Lightbringer sounds in places even more blackened than normal for the band, while in others it excels at channelling old-school death metal. Mostly, it’s both.
Nightbringer, Lightbringer is remarkably memorable for something as harsh as it is. The songwriting balances extremity with hooks, albeit ones that tear flesh rather than ones you can sing out loud. Archgoat dish out pain and punishment, and most of it sticks. Archgoat try out a few different creative ideas across the record too, such as alternative vocal styles, occasional melody, atmospheric touches, and piano use. The end result is a brutally harsh record that feels more well-rounded than is typical.
For all the unholy racket that Nightbringer, Lightbringer makes, it’s a very enjoyable and satisfying album. This is Archgoat at their most accessible. This should be understood within the context of their murderous style, of course, but Nightbringer, Lightbringer is unexpectedly diverse, relatively speaking.
Very highly recommended.
