SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NIGHTRAGE – WOLF TO MAN

Nightrage
Wolf To Man
Despotz Records

Nightrage is back with their eighth album Wolf to Man and it is a melodic death metal powerhouse. Many have compared Nightrage to In Flames, but on the new record, they are anything but.

Let us get some things out of the way first. Yes, their vocals sound very At the Gates and their sound and production is in Swedish death metal style. Neither of these things should detract one from appreciating their entrancing dual guitar melodies, specifically on “Disconnecting the Dots”, and the heavy standout “Starless Night”.  I almost get a 1990s era Paradise Lost vibe, as the slower melody parts on these songs are gloomy and doomy in the best way possible.

The solos, the groove parts, and the blast beat changes are top notch on this album. There are a few repetitive songs; sure, every death metal album has them. I would skip “The Damned” as the vocals and tone shift give the impression that it is another band altogether.

Lyrically, this collection illustrates the fall of humankind, and is a bit refreshing. Not many albums that are conceptual in nature stay with the story from start to finish.  Here, Nightrage does that in a way that is both brutal and sad. The last track is the instrumental “Lytrosis,” a beautiful acoustic song that can withstand any genre of scrutiny and shows off their musical talent without being too obvious.

Artist Links