Nibelheim
The Waiting Room

Sometimes reviewing an album, whether it's a full-length or a DEMO, isn't always easy. This is especially true when you have an album of excellent craftsmanship in your hands, such as "The Waiting Room", the second DEMO by Nibelheim, an Abruzzo-based band that I have already had the pleasure of reviewing on these pages.

The band was formed in 2003 from an idea by Stefania Salladini (a vocalist with supernatural abilities) and Luca Pavone (one of the band's guitarists). The band had already achieved considerable success in 2007 with the release of their first DEMO "Drawing The Lines" (which I reviewed here), becoming the top DEMO on "undergroundattack.it". Further praise poured in from the famous magazine Rock Hard, my preferred journal devoted to the world of Hard N' Heavy.

But now let's focus on this new little gem with facets and shades, I would dare say, infinite, "The Waiting Room". 

Before delving into the album analysis, I would like to start by asking a question to all of you, to all those who have ever found themselves in a situation in life where they had to make a decision. How did you behave? Did you act impulsively? Did you avoid confronting the issue? Well, because that's exactly what happens in this "waiting room," where they find themselves, almost as a joke, sharing the same fate, that of facing a situation and not knowing (or knowing) how to handle it. But what will be the consequences of their (and our) actions?

The album, as a whole, is very intricate, both from a musical standpoint and in terms of the themes it tackles.

The tracks in "The Waiting Room" represent four different stories, with four different protagonists, each placed in an imaginary "waiting room"; a waiting room seen as a transitional place between a previous quiet life and an important decision that could upset the course of events.

The songs that make up the DEMO completely distance themselves from those that appeared on their previous work, "Drawing The Lines," being much more structured, paced, and reflective. It still speaks about thrash-death (in fact, still thrash-death of excellent craftsmanship), but this time the melodies find little space overall, which is more varied, slower, more obsessive, and often overwhelming and earth-shaking.

The DEMO consists of four tracks. All songs are built around excellent mid-tempos and intricate riffs, with great tempo changes and splendid solos that provide the melody that seems to have been swept away. 

Now, let's analyze them more concretely in their content and structure. The dance opens with "These Decaying Walls" where the first protagonist locked in their "waiting room" prefers to eternally linger rather than face what will be the choice and its consequence. The song is introduced by a very dark and sinister riff and Stefania's scream, always in great form. Something is whispered in the background, but it is not quite clear what. It almost seems as if the thoughts trapped in the protagonist's mind take shape and begin to haunt him, driving him insane. Perhaps it's for this reason that he will prefer not even to try, but we can't know for sure. The song is very paced and martial, excellent mid-tempos that, in the sudden finale, burst into a great escape where Luca's and Andrea's axes give us excellent solos worthy of the great school. "Shut Up!" This is how the song concludes after our friend's mind has been tortured, thinking "this room is so crude, I can't even scream my name, Cracks are running down these walls. They're running towards me, Suddenly I understand, I am the main crack.. And this room is so crowded, But I'm alone [..] so let me take refuge in my old memories..". Magnificent.

As magnificent is the following "Lunatic Asylum" where the protagonist of the moment prefers to wear a mask rather than face reality, ultimately going insane ("Why do you put me to this senseless torture? Will you forgive yourself after all?..."). The band members' performances are excellent as usual, the rhythm section dancing along with Stefania and the legendary Luca-Andrea duo, ready to never disappoint.

"Reshaping" is, instead, unpredictable. Faster than the others in the opening, it calms down shortly thereafter with an excellent tempo change and a great Stefania who will scream "I destroy the world around" when the guitars unleash machine gun-like riffs, fast and granite. A commendable note is the superb solo placed at the end, one of the most beautiful you can hear in the band's music and thrash. Lyrically, the song tackles the theme taken on by the third protagonist locked in their waiting room, who prefers to confront their moment with force, without reflecting on the (disastrous) consequences.

The gem closes with my favorite, which is "Death O'Clock", opened by a very hard-rock riff that then gives way to all the anger that Nibelheim have inside, exploding in the screams of a "desperate" and, at the same time, angry Stefania. From a very catchy beginning, it is wonderful to note how it is repeatedly softened by very dark arpeggios where Stefania's voice is heard whispering and then, subsequently, exploding with rage. And it is in this song that Nibelheim bring out, along with anger, their family jewels: tenacity, passion, technique, melody, and guts! Because, in this "waiting room," our protagonist friend will surrender without even trying (".. I welcome the end... And then, nothing, just BLACK"). Closed in a crescendo by a relentless drum, killer and deadly riffs, and a singer who never disappoints my expectations. The performance offered by Federico di Simone, a great and powerful drummer, is beautiful. A monster on the instrument.

Fantastic album, beautiful, overwhelming both in music and in distressing and bleak lyrics, with a band that never holds back a punch. Four authentic thrash-death gunshots composed excellently and played even better, sung exemplarily with a production far superior to the previous album, highlighting the excellent "dirty" riffs, the melodies of the solos, the always winning drumming, and a singer who takes your breath away. Nibelheim has taken yet another step forward, not disappointing me, proving to be a great band capable of composing great music while still confined to the underground of the genre. But, in all honesty (and it's also a personal wish I extend to the band), I think this won't last much longer, given the wonderful performance offered in "The Waiting Room". I hope they manage to reach all the fame they deserve as soon as possible.

This is my wish. My invitation, instead, is to support them and do them justice by purchasing their albums where it's possible to literally feel their soul explode inside. Soul fully put in. Soul that is fervently alight and burning. Burning with passion. Burning for the music they like to compose and play.

Greetings to all, a special greeting to Stefania and the Nibelheim.

Exceptional.

For further contacts you can visit their Myspace at:

http://www.myspace.com/nibelheim1

or visit their website at:

http://www.nibelheim.it