Sheol

Naglfar | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Century Media
• ASIN: B000092Q6I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,923 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2003 album for the Swedish black/death metal act, complex & brutal, their first in five years. 9 tracks. Sleeve contains 16 pages of photos, song lyrics & credits. New Haven. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Swedish Black Metal, June 22, 2003

By 

Michael R Villarreal (Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheol (Audio CD)

Last year, one of my online acquaintances recommended that I listen to some Naglfar, along with dozens of other various thrash, death, and power metal bands that I had never heard. Their other recommendations were right on, but for some reason, Naglfar was one of the ones that I overlooked. It turns out that doing so was a huge mistake.
The cover art of this album was the first thing that impacted me. While any group can put some piece of wicked-looking artwork on the front of their disc, Sheol has a truly sweet image on its frontside. Impressionistic rather than blatant (unlike Cannibal Corpse's Gore Obsessed, which has its own attractiveness), it conveys the heavy, dark atmosphere that you'll find through the entire disc.
That much said, Naglfar have created a masterpiece of black metal. It isn't really the Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth -esque music that everyone is raving about now. In fact, this album probably doesn't have the right sound to gain an aggressive chance at reaching the main stream like that, but it is infinitely better by leaps and bounds. Jens Ryden has a truly awesome vocal tone, and that same tone carries most of the tracks when the guitar might otherwise start to sound atonal or cacophonous in some cases (as happens with lots of black metal).
Not that there's much to worry about there. The only track that is really weak in that area is "Wrath of the Fallen", in which instance the vocals (and the lyrics themselves) lift a mediocre song up to above-average status. Other songs, like "Black God Aftermath", "Devoured By Naglfar", and "Unleash Hell" just blister with awesomeness on all parts.
I have absolutely no problem with this album; it is the epitome of what extreme black metal should be.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great album, December 1, 2004

By 

TheDreamGhost "Trollheren" (Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheol (Audio CD)

Very good album. The whole thing is very enjoyable, however I think the first track is the high point... it's actually why I bought the album. The other tracks are very heavy & enjoyable, but a little lack luster in comparison to "I Am Vengeance."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SOLID!!!, September 22, 2003

By 

D. Knouse (vancouver, washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sheol (Audio CD)

Sure, there are only a few reviews for this album, and that would make any Black Metal fan skeptical of the brilliance therein. This is a very solid CD with zero filler, and speed! That is not to say there is no variation in tempo, there is. It just shifts from blinding speed to thrash, then back again, loaded with melodic guitar. The production is first rate and the muscianship is excellent. This makes a fine addition to any Black Metal collection. Highly recommended.