For the longest time, it has long been the case that Europe has reigned supreme when it comes to black metal that is worthy of our attention and true cornerstones of a vast swathe of the genre. That comes as no surprise given the sheer breadth of scope and domination that our European brethren have long held over metal as a whole, yet it’s slowly but surely over the decades that the other continents are catching up to offer performances of their own that are no less than magnificent in power and composition. America is no stranger to such a concept as it’s also a hub for metal and beyond, but American black metal isn’t something that we hear enough of. It only takes the right names to come forward and show us what they’re made of. With their first full-length album, Nøkk shows us how it’s done in a form that’s as intense as it is masterful.

In a sound as voracious and competitive as black metal, you need to either have a tremendous gimmick or loads of talent mixed with a deep understanding of the craft if you hope to stand out in this scene as it is downright effortless to become lost in its seemingly never-ending depths. Most go for the latter, but not all that many are able to come forward and really do it justice. Black metal isn’t a necessarily complex genre when viewed from the outside, yet it’s upon venturing inward that you find yourself met with quite a lot that’s mandatory if you’re hoping to make your sound known.

Atmosphere, melody, intensity, theme, and more all play a part in some of the most engaging performances of black metal, and it’s a true feat of strength for any band to be able to wrangle it all and hold dominion over what the sound can be. “Heartless” is but the first album from Nøkk. However, it’s in practically every given minute of these six tracks that black metal as a whole is given immense reverence through perpetuation of some of its best tropes but it’s never once that Nøkk allows itself to succumb to a fate of sounding cookie-cutter, uninspired, or tragically boring. Able to balance the line between raw evisceration powered by overwhelming darkness and a euphoric sense of dread and foreboding that’s only further amplified by themes of self-destruction, “Heartless” holds nothing back to ensure that it’s personal brand of black metal is as vicious as it is magnificently direct. Without too many frills and knowing precisely how to bring about their vision in all of its uncompromising intensity, the whole of this record already shows us what Nøkk is already made of as the collective past experience this band boasts offering them a significant edge. Easily, it puts them toe-to-toe with a lot of the rising talent black metal is currently witnessing.

“Heartless” could have become many things as Nøkk took a massive step forward for itself, and it’s clear to me that every decision they took was made with confidence, passion, and know-how the likes of which make for a true spectacle. Black metal has seen plenty of new talent rising out of the writhing nothingness in recent years. For everything summoned throughout this vicious effort, “Heartless” enables Nøkk to be considered yet another such talent.

LISTEN to “Heartless” on Bandcamp here.

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