This marks a first for The Metal Gamer on two things. One, I’ve never ever reviewed a band from Saudi Arabia. Two, I’ve never reviewed a compilation album. Why not take two birds with one stone right!? For those of you who don’t know who AlNamrood are then let me break it down to you. The band was created in 2008 from the ashes of Mephisophilus plays black metal focused on anti-religion and ancient history. Oh and AlNamrood translates to “the non-believer”, how cool is that?
Before this album I’d actually not heard much from AlNamrood, only a song here and there. Meaning this would be my first full album listen with them. The middle-east influences gets known straight away on the opener “Estorat Taghoot” and it feels epic. I got no idea what these dudes sing about but the music in itself speaks volume. After the strong opener it is a bit of a mixed bag to me with “Fe Al Diaji” passing by quite unnoticed, “Hayat Al Khlood” ends up being one of my favorite songs on the album then “Al Jahliya” comes on straight after. It has a really slow start with the same boring riff repeating until it unleashes at just under the four minute mark. The last minute and half is however great stuff making me got a sort of love and hate thing going. “Endama Tuqsaf Al Rous” does bring a lot more of the black metal agressive drumming, better job with changing up the tempo and flow, making it a solid track and a great showcase on how I want a AlNamrood song to captivate the listener into a black metal trance.
“Asda’s Al Dmar” is an epic seven minute track which does it job without standing out, the only thing I feel here is that should have been closing the album out. The closing track instead goes to “Atbaa Al-Namrood” which is one of the weaker ones on the album. Once the around 40 minutes have played through I feel this could have been a much more consistent journey. The vocals is a bit of a challenge getting used to which you might hate or love, I personally am torn in between. Here are some high and lows but when it’s good I really enjoy it. Also the fact AlNamrood does what they do seeing where they are from is nothing more but the essence of metal, have to give them respect for that fact alone!
Written by J.B.
Label: Shaytan Productions
For fans of: Melechesh and Odious
Release date: July 20th, 2018
Favorite song: Endama Tuqsaf Al Rous
Score: 3/5 Good