Primordial
To The Nameless Dead

I began to appreciate the Irish Primordial with "The Gathering Wilderness," a 2005 work that saw them skillfully unite the diverse influences that have characterized their long experience. Black rhythms, Viking themes (although for them it would be more accurate to simply refer to folk, even though it has often been associated with them in the past), epic/dramatic tones, and much more, all of which were easily noticeable in that album. Which, I'll say immediately, I consider one of the group's masterpieces (if not THE masterpiece); it was logical for me to expect the same class from this "To The Nameless Dead" of 2007 as its predecessor. Well, the album involved me less, but I cannot deny how the band led by the theatrical Alan Nemtheanga has once again hit the mark, albeit with some slight adjustments in the structure of the tracks.

Of black, only glimpses remain in the drumming and the chill often emanated by the guitars, and even the folk influences are "limited" to certain melodic frameworks. What emerges enormously is anger, desperate rancor, and bitterness, feelings that arise from the themes surrounding the work. The social component was present even in "The Gathering Wilderness" (in "The Coffin Ships", just to give an example), but it is with "To The Nameless Dead" that it ascends to the role of the undisputed protagonist of the album. A platter entirely dedicated to the senselessness of the many deaths due to often useless wars, of people fallen to defend the honor of their homeland, which for them symbolized freedom, love, family, while for someone else, hidden in the shadows manipulating them like puppets, it was just another chess game.

No classification comes to mind for this work, perhaps because it is born from the union of many genres: black, viking, folk, doom, and more. But frankly, who cares, it needs to be listened to, plain and simple. Even just the first track, "Empire Falls", can be taken as an exemplary title of that furious verve that will then animate all subsequent songs. A powerful voice, effortlessly shifting from a theatrical clean to an impressive scream, a glacial, visceral, raspy, and passionate scream that carries the listener like a fierce wind: one cannot help but fall victim to and love Nemtheanga's way of singing.

On the instrumental plane, we can notice how cyclical structures, enveloping and spiral-like (very doom in this sense), with strong pathos and epicity are favored. The guitars continually weave powerful textures, whether they are cold black-style swipes or rocky and slow, they always succeed in creating a solemn and at times sacred atmosphere. The rhythm section, on its part, accelerates and decelerates continuously, transitioning from black drumming to one that is, once again, doom, slow, cadenced, and annihilating.

Having to cite the most relevant tracks, I find myself a bit challenged. The album is indeed very balanced, not showing its side to particular criticisms, probably also because it starts and ends by doggedly following its predetermined canons. A bit like Primordial themselves, masters at advancing headstrong over two decades of music, always keeping their intentions clear.

The opening triplet is nonetheless dizzying (with the mantra-like break of "As Rome Burns" that seals an imperious and emotionally intense climax), but no less are the more folkish "Heathen Tribes" and the declamatory finale entrusted to "No Nation On This Earth".

Perhaps slightly verbose, less inclined to drama and self-pity compared to "The Gathering Wilderness," more characterized by proud social protest, this "To The Nameless Dead" nonetheless comfortably positions itself as the ideal follow-up to the aforementioned work, developing certain aspects that perhaps remained more in the shadows, and resulting in its ideal counterpart. Ultimately, it remains a very intense and fascinating album, which very nearly touches the highest ratings, which, in my opinion, rightfully belongs to its predecessor, the ideal culmination and summation of all the influences of the Irish group. In any case, a great album.