Semper
Nihili Locus

NIHILI LOCUS is absolutely a Doomish Black Metal cult act of the Italian scene. "Semper" is the album that will consecrate the band for years enshrouded in their cult status shadow and now finally ready to emerge in all its dark greatness. The album will allow the band to reap the fruits of a career always characterized by a melancholic pathos embodied in a dark sonorous extremism. The album has six songs, and "Lugubri Lai" is first. Clean, solemn tones lead off the song. Harsh, angry tones follow, and the lead guitar sing a lament. The song grows steadily faster and even angrier as it moves. "Polvericellule" is slower, and much doomier in nature, and the rhythm guitars and guttural vocals combine for a harrowing listening experience. I feel like I have to look over my shoulder to make sure there is nothing there.
"Pensieri Nebulosi" features a nice combination of softer tones and harsh ones, and there is tension in the background that can't be denied. Scratchy vocals bubble under the surface, and hint at something out there. Those little bells add to the mystique as well. "(Grida) La Notte Eterna" has gentler tones, but they are still very somber in nature. The vocals sound like he is trying to annunciate something, or declare something. The evil tones grow throughout the song until that is all you have left. "Incolore Aberrazione" has meaty bass notes to go along with the filthy vocals and the smooth but tense guitars. You get the feeling that the song is like a firecracker with a long fuse…light it, and step away. "Il Tuo Sangue Per I Miei Maiali" is the final song, and the clean tones are beautiful, but are wiped by the filth of darkness.
Overall, this was a despondent listening experience that had just enough anger to take the listener through a couple of different emotions. The raging elements were intense, in a way that makes them real. The somber tones served as a reminder that much of life is not one-sided, rather a bevy of experiences that we will all go through. You gotta hang on for the ride, no matter how dark it gets…and the album is that darkness.
Tags:
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production

"Semper" Track-listing:
1. Lugubri Lai
2. Polvericellule
3. Pensieri Nebulosi
4. (Grida) La Notte Eterna
5. Incolore Aberrazione
6. Il Tuo Sangue Per I Miei Maiali
Nihili Locus Lineup:
Bruno – Vocals
Valla – Guitars
Alessandro – Guitars
Massimo – Bass
Robi – Drums, Harsh Vocals
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