By:
Ernesto Aguilar
Album Type: Full Length
(Reissue)
Date Released: 25/05/2018
Label: Argonauta Records
Vocal
treatments, humming effects and elements you rarely hear in sludge decorate the
exteriors everywhere. The heart of these songs is firmly in the doom/sludge
camp, but this iteration of Nibiru was fearless in
an atypical fashion when it came to experimentation
“Netrayoni”
2CD//DD track listing:
1).
Kshanika mukta
2).
Apsara
3).
Sekhet aahru
4).
Qaa-om sapah
5).
Arkashani
6).
Kwaw-loon
7).
Sekhmet
8).
Celeste samsara is broken
9).
Viparita karani
10).
Sothis
11).
Carma geta
The Review:
Italian
sludge trio Nibiru released last year's "Qaal Babylon" to some acclaim. The
dense atmosphere and ambitious orchestration made it one of the strongest
recordings in its discography. With interest up, its label has seen fit to
remaster and reissue the band's second album, "Netrayoni." The results are as good as you might anticipate.
The
reissue catches the sludge gods at some of their wilder best. "Netrayoni" got favorable reviews
when it came out four years ago. It is a record that has held up quite well.
Nibiru's superpower has always been
doing uncommon music. Its thick arrangements always have a flourish of
something different. That is great for metal connoisseurs who will not be satisfied
with just glacial chords, and want a new take on the music. The band is also
apt to challenge its fans, as it does in the forbidding 11-minute opener "Kshanika mukta." A noise infused
track, it's a step back a few years to what a slowed down version of The Body may have grilled in its backyard. There are syncopated
guitars with distortion and quirky vocals. However, songs like "Apsara" and "Sekhet aahru" offer the
traditional sludge as only Nibiru can do.
This
album was released in 2014, when drummer Siatris was still with the band. Those
who came to the group with "Qaal
Babylon" may notice delicate divergences. L.C. Chertan was behind the
kit for the last record, and the playing there was measured and quite deliberate
at turns. "Netrayoni" sees
a more ragged style take hold, which works for the record, particular on
winding, freakier, more progressive cuts such as "Celeste samsara is broken." On the other hand, it is surely a
ponderous matter to hear what the 16-minute "Kwaw-loon" might have become if Chertan had been on the
original recording. Nibiru's delivery is
nevertheless stunning.
If
you are a newer fan, be aware this album is a departure. Vocal treatments,
humming effects and elements you rarely hear in sludge decorate the exteriors
everywhere. The heart of these songs is firmly in the doom/sludge camp, but
this iteration of Nibiru was fearless in
an atypical fashion when it came to experimentation. By all means, the current
formation remains excellent. However, with "Netrayoni," you are sure to discover layers to the trio you
may have missed on its last album. In all, this diversity is only going to make
you love what they do all the more.
“Netrayoni”
is available here
