Nagelfar - Virus West
Van Records
Black Metal
7 songs (62'00")
Release year: 2007
Van Records
Reviewed by Alex
Archive review

I thought it would be cool to time this review with the one done for the most recent Naglfar release, to remind the audience that there was once another Nagelfar, different spelling, but the same apocalyptic ship made entirely of toe and fingernails of the dead carrying the evil to destroy the Gods in Norse mythology. This Nagelfar, sailing from Germany, was the product of creative cooperation between guitarist/bassist Zorn and Alexander von Meilenwald (drums on Kermania, the single soul behind The Ruins of Beverast). As one or the other part of the duo sailed adrift, Virus West was the last roar Nagelfar ever made.

Unlike its previous records, with Jander on vocals, Virus West introduced Zingultus and eschewed all gothic leanings, clean solo singing and keyboard interludes in favor of aggressive, almost militant, attitude. If brood is good for thinking what could have been, blast is certainly appropriate for hating the world. And that is most certainly the feeling that Virus West brings up. This is the record good to listen to imagining the faces of the people you’d rather smash. Just check out the pummeling Faden Des Schicksals provides. Whatever Eastern style mindfulness Hetzjagd in Palastina originally provides, the distorted guitar promptly hacks it to pieces. Those Eastern bazaar images originally captured on this song and Sturm der Katharsis in the end go berserk, growing belligerent and rebellious.

The mid-Eastern battle motif is furthered on by trumpets and tribal beat of the Westwall interlude, but Virus West is certainly not an album made for interludes. While the backup “proud warriors” clean choruses do add to the epic feeling, acoustic breakups are way too short to make an impact (Sturm der Katharsis). Zingultus voice, reminiscent of Abbath’s quacking and grunting, weaves right into the Virus West fabric, but what one remembers the most is the power of Alexander’s drums and those blasting tremolo moments made interesting by undercurrent melodic shifts (Sturm der Katharsis and Meuterei). That, and, crushing monster riffs on Protokoll Einer Foslter and, again, Meuterei.

I would not venture a guess why Nagelfar broke up, but war mongering of Virus West may have started putting the band on the pathway already walked by Immortal and, to a degree, Marduk. Solid, but not original enough, reissued by Van, the album will stand as the Germans last hurrah.

Killing Songs :
Sturm der Katharsis, Hellebarn, Meuterei
Alex quoted 70 / 100
Other albums by Nagelfar that we have reviewed:
Nagelfar - Hunengrab im Herbst reviewed by Tony and quoted CLASSIC
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There are 3 replies to this review. Last one on Tue May 22, 2007 11:40 am
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