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Looking before listening, one must see quite a similarity between Ninnuam's booklet and that from The Haunted's sophomore release. The layout is quite similar, not that this is a bad thing. In fact, one of the band members (the drummer) is sporting a shirt from The Haunted. Continuing to look without a listen, this six piece band has a Jack White look-alike, someone that looks like a member of The Hives (or The Strokes or The Vines or The ____s), a castoff from Powerman 5000, a Nü Metal poser in a straitjacket and two "long hairs." Thank the deity of your choice that appearances are deceiving and don't judge this book by its cover. The music kills.
Instant comparisons to current Black Metal heavyweights Dimmu Borgir are appropriate, at least from their last two releases, though this band is no clone. Also warranted are additional comparisons to The Haunted, particularly the already referenced second album, The Haunted Made Me Do It. This is a genre-skirting band only inasmuch that elements of Black, Death, and Thrash abound almost equally. The inclusion of a keyboard allows the Black Metal label to dominate but this is a bit more than that. For the record there is no Cradle of Filth wankery present on this release, mercifully so.
Also adding to the Black Metal aesthetic is the use of corpsepaint. Images courtesy of the band’s official website, though not in the liner notes, show a very Immortal looking drummer and some Dimmu Borgir looking faces to round out the band. So what, right? Right. The music is killer. Dynamics are used to fill out the shredding guitar riffs that are already framed effectively by atmospheric keyboards (and even a choir late in the album), bringing the Dimmu Borgir similitude to the fore. The drumming recalls Immortal in its quasi-Thrash styling. The lead throat is quite similar to Marco Aro’s debut with The Haunted.
What is perhaps most impressive about Process of Life Separation is that this is a debut record. It sounds like one steeped in years of Metal excellence. If you are a fan of any of the bands already mentioned here, do yourself – and Ninnuam – a favor and get this album. The future is quite bright for this extreme Metal outfit hailing from Sweden. I wish them every success and hope to be able to experience more of their technical prowess in the coming years. \m/
Additional caveat: the last 75 seconds of the album are comprised by a pastoral piano and atmospheric keyboard interlude suitable for representing the closing credits of a great album.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Process Of Life Separation |
| 2. Godhead |
| 3. My Sphere |
| 4. Sect |
| 5. Dark Visions |
| 6. Scar Salvation |
| 7. Optional Existence |
| 8. Soulwounded |
| 9. Morbid Appealing |
| 10. Age Of Unknown |
: 47.29
| Buy other Ninnuam albums |
