CoC : Naglfar - Diabolical : Review

Naglfar - _Diabolical_
(War, 1998)
by: Paul Schwarz (8.5 out of 10)

Damn, this stuff is intense. I decided to give their Tagtgren/Abyss produced debut _Vittra_ a cursory listen in the wake of _Diabolical_'s release and found it to be a good debut, though a little derivative and uninspired. Three years on from that and we have _Diabolical_ -- solid proof that touring and just being in a band for a time should make people better musicians, more effectively able to comunicate their message to the masses. Though it bears similarities to Dissection's inimitable style, _Diabolical_ makes up for what it lacks in any real originality in the incredible energy which seems to literally course through its sonic veins, touching every drum break, beat, guitar riff, lick or vocal line with its life invigorating qualities. The kind of power this inspires in me reminds me of Children of Bodom's recent masterful debut, and although Naglfar are certainly on a more "evil" musical path than Children of Bodom, the two can bear a lot of comparison. They both have a talent for combining keyboards into their intense sound well, for example. Naglfar cannot match their deceased overlords yet, but they have time on their side -- they're still young, and they already beat a lot of the remaining competition (see Raise Hell), although as I have already pointed out, Dawn are the only band who can at present even reasonably sit on Dissection's vacated throne.

(article published 19/11/1998)

ALBUMS
4/2/2007	K Sarampalis	8	Naglfar - Harvest
31/5/2005	J Smit	7	Naglfar - Pariah
11/5/2003	P Azevedo	9	Naglfar - Sheol
12/4/2002	Q Kalis	7	Naglfar - Ex Inferis
9/6/1996	B Meloon	7	Naglfar - Vittra