Natanas
Best of Collection 2014 – 2015
17 Track Album
Release Date: 17th July 2016
Written for Blackened HordeZine
By: Pagan Hel
Natanas – Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/xNatanasx
Additional Information:
All instrumentation and vocals performed by Namtaräum, except vocals on Soul Retrieval which were performed by Lord Narcissus of Ulfrinn (lordnarcissus.com), also the vocal track on Anneliese Wept is a sample of an exorcism tape from the 1970s of Anneliese Michel. Recorded in 2014, 2015 at Natanas Studios in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Genre: Black Metal
Biography:
“Natanas have released twenty two tracks between 2014 and 2015. This is the abridged essence of that time period and represents his favourite material. All tracks are remixed, remastered, some changed quite a bit. The early tracks retain their original drum tracks unmolested, because the imperfections therein are part of the soul of those releases. The evolution of the sound is tracked herein. Also included is a bonus song recorded for this compilation entitled Soul Retrieval featuring Lord Narcissus from Ulfrinn on vocals!”
~~~~~~~~~~
Like with most black metal it is gnarly and oppressive, although the first track on this album holds a dark whistling vocal, almost like heavy breathing and a repetitive edge that is quite addictive. The next track Treachery from Treachery is slower and spasmodic in its dark delivery, but holds some amazing strings that are quite delicate and lift the track from its black metal roots if only slightly. Transcend from Смертность holds a robotic sampled voice and then surges into a nasty gargling vocal with scratchy riffs attached, which is more in keeping with its black metal fundamentals. Viscosity from Xylophar simply ambles through a black haze of dream-like chords that are steadied by a monotonous rhythm. G1 from Ghirelliam (Йиреллиам) is spiced with brooding and striking chords and added solid bass, that gives it a sad and melancholic feel that further on turns dark and atmospheric. Mutual from Chæphron (Кифрон) resonates with a powerful black judder of notes and a vocal that scythes through its paces in a deep cutting tone. Drift from Splitting the Serpent’s Tongue opens with joyful birdsong amid a haunting keyboard and various other little incidental noises before conjuring up a blackened groove and the perpetual grinding whispered vocal encounter, but possessing a good strong melody. Misadventure is quite epic in its delivery with sophistication and use of an orchestral building of instruments that grow amid a sobering damming vocal. Entropic from Entropic lets rip with steely intentions and a certain rebel rousing that is consumed in a murky haze sounding extremely demonic. My Sinew Constitutes Desolation from Sodom et Rex Infernum has angular riffs that are sparse, cold and sombre, although it does take on a quickening pace early on in the track and delivers with a sickening blow to the gut. Don’t Let Me Linger plods on its way with foreboding strings before the vocals come whistling in and giving off a vibe of demonic possession. Useless (Chugger Pump) has an eerie edge that is choked in ambiance and sombre leanings although the uplifting haunting melody keeps it from sinking totally to the depths. Two Ounces of Diphenhydramine is probably what you need when listening to this as it takes its bold steps into the darkness and emerges amid a smokescreen of obscure contagion. Anneliese Wept is a track that looks at the demonic possession of Anneliese Michael. Being ravaged by a stark drum beat and haunting strings it does brood and conjures up a dark force all its own but not as devilish as it could be to really sense the feeling of what the girl went through. Nunc Occidere Me from Pleromic Entrapment the initial opening is one of electric strings that resonate profusely with jabbing drum beats and doesn’t seem to lift from its monotone raptures. Choronzon Takes Aim once again a strong riff generates amid a haunting female sampled operatic voice adding to the tracks eeriness. Soul Retrieval ft. Lord Narcissus embarks on a deadly stint of moodiness with essences that brood malignance with an outpouring of antagonistic vocals.
Black metal can be extremely boring at times sounding disjointed and familiar with no real direction other than one way and that is to hell usually, however Natanas has captured a brooding essence of black magic shall we say, as each track although dark, evil and foreboding possesses a real tenebrous cloud that follows it through-out the album.
The uplifting riffs keep the tracks from sinking into their devilish pit and put a sinister edge on things with haunting consequences.
It is quite a depressing album though with lots of sombre incantations and moody presence but it is what you would expect of this genre. If you allow it to embrace you then you find things within its confines that quite easily will astound you, if on the other hand you refuse to listen as it isn’t your bag, you will never understand the black magic twist that lies in wait.
9/10
Track List:
Guilt Rotting in the Gut from All Is Permitted [2014]
Treachery from Treachery [2014]
Transcend from Смертность [2015]
Viscosity from Xylophar (Зилофар) [2015]
G1 from Ghirelliam (Йиреллиам) [2015]
Mutual from Chæphron (Кифрон) [2015]
Drift from Splitting the Serpent’s Tongue (Natanas / Music Distroyer Split) [2015]
Misadventure from Natanas / Ulfrinn Split [2015]
Entropic from Entropic [2015]
My Sinew Constitutes Desolation from Sodom et Rex Infernum [2015]
Don’t Let Me Linger from Natanas / Bukavac Split [2015]
Useless (Chugger Pump) from Natanas / Vore Split [2015]
Two Ounces of Diphenhydramine from Pedicabo eam omnes (bonus track on that release) [2015]
Anneliese Wept from Pedicabo eam omnes [2015]
Nunc Occidere Me from Pleromic Entrapment / Mustan Roihun Demot (split with Nekroverse) [2015]
Choronzon Takes Aim (Sinking Deeper) from Dolor [2015]
Soul Retrieval ft. Lord Narcissus (bonus) [2016]
Members:
Namtaräum – Vocals and all instruments
Natanas
Hang ‘em High
5 Track EP
Released: 9th May 2016
Written for Blackened Horde Zine
By: Pagan Hel
Natanas – Wyoming, USA
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/xNatanas
Genre: Black Doom Metal
Biography:
“Natanas is a one piece band that started in 2013, out of Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA. The sole member is Namtaräum. He performs vocals, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, violin and keyboards as well as produces. For over a decade, he has worked in the oil field. It is a rough place to be, outside in -30 weather working on the electronics that help natural gas and oil wells through the production phase. Prior to this he was a computer programmer by trade. He lives with his wife, three children, four cats and a dog.
Natanas‘ lyrical themes are generally misanthropic and occult. Musical style is very heavy on atmospheric elements, and is a blending of black metal, doom metal, and a dash of industrial from time to time. Eram numquam amicum vestrum was recorded one instrument at a time on cassette tape. These audio layers were then played into an audio interface and recorded onto an Ipad Air 2 for mixing and mastering. This album revolves around the turmoil caused by the crash in oil prices that decimated the finances, and changed the live of pretty much everyone I know. It focuses this topic through a lens of rage, and a vantage point of the otherworldly!”
~~~~~~
So with just 8 weeks break Namtaräum is back with his final offering of doom.
‘Entrance’ this is a very creepy and predatory track that goes one step to being downright stalking! You can feel the chills run down your backbone and turn it to ice. It’s disturbingly terrifying with heaps of emotional turmoil embedded deep inside it.
‘Fortunate Son (Uranus Rising)’ cooking up yet more sonic enterprise is this musical piece which is a hearty dirge but it lures with persuasion and vigour. It is like massive black spiny bones are all converging in on you and sucking the life out of you.
‘Hang em High’ is startling and a rhythmic encounter which is a lot more up-beat than anything heard so far. It’s on a mission make no mistake! The proposal of the said track is robust and compelling and can be likened to a psychedelic adventure.
‘Arterial Reminder’ has a certain black charm attached to it as its potent rawness swamps the audial and immerses the listener in a never ending stream of skilfully interwoven sounds that get the heart racing with the throaty rasping’s of an annihilated vocal.
I’nterstitial Parasite’ dropping to a low key this track is the final one on the EP and to say scintillating and scything would be about right. This EP is far more intense in delivery than the previous three. It blends some weird and wonderful sounds together that are deeply profound.
It closes in on you for sure and plunges you into a world of never ending plague and pestilence – good if you are in the mood for it but not an EP you could listen to willy nilly as the intensity will drive you insane!
10/10
Track List:
Entrance
Fortunate Son (Uranus Rising)
Hang ‘em High
Arterial Reminder
Interstitial Parasite
Members:
Namtaräum: Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, synth, mandolin, violin, mixing, and mastering
Natanas
Spore from a Mushroom
4 Track EP
Released: 29th March 2016
Written for Blackened Horde Zine
By: Pagan Hel
Natanas – Wyoming USA
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/xNatanas
Genre: Black Doom Metal
Biography:
“Natanas is a one piece band that started in 2013, out of Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA. The sole member is Namtaräum. He performs vocals, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, violin and keyboards as well as produces. For over a decade, he has worked in the oil field. It is a rough place to be, outside in -30 weather working on the electronics that help natural gas and oil wells through the production phase. Prior to this he was a computer programmer by trade. He lives with his wife, three children, four cats and a dog.
Natanas‘ lyrical themes are generally misanthropic and occult. Musical style is very heavy on atmospheric elements, and is a blending of black metal, doom metal, and a dash of industrial from time to time. Eram numquam amicum vestrum was recorded one instrument at a time on cassette tape. These audio layers were then played into an audio interface and recorded onto an Ipad Air 2 for mixing and mastering. This album revolves around the turmoil caused by the crash in oil prices that decimated the finances, and changed the live of pretty much everyone I know. It focuses this topic through a lens of rage, and a vantage point of the otherworldly!”
~~~~~~
‘Spore from a Mushroom’ yet another interesting title track and just fifteen days later we see more from Namtaräum this time on ‘Spore from a Mushroom’ although still in the doom mode it does have some irregular beats which makes it quirky to say the very least, varying slightly, although not much, into a psychedelic disturbance.
‘Fear the Elder things’ the monotone knocking’s give it an eerie edge it has to be said. It is quite hypnotising and wraps the listener in a black mass of infected drama as it carries out its task.
‘You don’t understand his will’ no, not sure I do! This is one very weird and strange track that doesn’t seem to go anywhere, is a crazy concoction of sounds and probably the shortest track so far by Natanas.
‘Petit Mal’ is a track on a mission and makes a very bold statement with its harsh resonating pulses of sound. Carrying thicker atmospherics but no sign of anything that can be remotely called vocals, it’s damming with a brittleness that is haunting and very profound! My favourite track on the EP without a doubt!
9.5/10
Track List:
Spore from a Mushroom
Fear the Elder things
You don’t understand his will
Petit Mal
Members:
Namtaräum: Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, synth, mandolin, violin, mixing, and mastering
Natanas
Decline
5 Track EP with Bonus Track
Released: 14th March 2016
Written for Blackened Horde Zine
By: Pagan Hel
Natanas – Wyoming, USA
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/xNatanasx
Genre: Black Doom Metal
Biography:
“Natanas is a one piece band that started in 2013, out of Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA. The sole member is Namtaräum. He performs vocals, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, violin and keyboards as well as produces. For over a decade, he has worked in the oil field. It is a rough place to be, outside in -30 weather working on the electronics that help natural gas and oil wells through the production phase. Prior to this he was a computer programmer by trade. He lives with his wife, three children, four cats and a dog.
Natanas‘ lyrical themes are generally misanthropic and occult. Musical style is very heavy on atmospheric elements, and is a blending of black metal, doom metal, and a dash of industrial from time to time. Eram numquam amicum vestrum was recorded one instrument at a time on cassette tape. These audio layers were then played into an audio interface and recorded onto an Ipad Air 2 for mixing and mastering. This album revolves around the turmoil caused by the crash in oil prices that decimated the finances, and changed the live of pretty much everyone I know. It focuses this topic through a lens of rage, and a vantage point of the otherworldly!”
~~~~~~
Namtaräum has obviously not let the grass grow beneath his feet as within a few short weeks has now also released ‘Decline’
‘Dead Inside’ starting off on an urgent note quite literally this soars staying focused on the jagged haze of doom, pumping rhythmic and hypnotically, with large resonating scourges gets steadily more terrifying. Still no sign of coherent vocals but staying with its rasping throaty demonic presence.
‘Decline’ title track from the EP is again a lot edgier than the previous works from Namtaräum. Mind and spirit all get involved on this track although the body can’t do much as it is paralysed! The frenzied drum beats serve to show the track has a rabid intensity be it dumbed down somewhat, but still none the less an impressive track.
‘Numb from the Beginning’ and probably after the previous track too, this one shows no signs of removing itself from its comfort zone. Its harshness is observed in pulsating addiction that grips with high intensity!
‘Deutsch Blogger’ quite an unusual name for a doom metal track showing a slight diverse side. Musically compelling with biting pulsation, although the swelling rhythmic seduction isn’t far behind.
‘Gone’ does possess a melody of sorts which has so far been quite rare. It is however, quite catchy in its own way. Chunky biting riffs resonate with demonic enterprise and lifts it, to combine the dammed with the devil.
‘Venom for the Saved (Bonus)’ plays host to a solid bass hook and stark cymbals and quite an adventure. Evolving into a brewing and predacious groove it spikes and holds a good driving force. At over 10 minutes though it is probably just that bit too long to keep the listener fully engaged.
8.5/10
Track List:
Dead Inside
Decline
Numb from the Beginning
Deutsch Blogger
Gone
Venom for the Saved (Bonus)
Members:
Namtaräum: Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, synth, mandolin, violin, mixing, and mastering
Natanas
Eram Numquam Amicum Vestrum
10 Track Album
Released: 10th January 2016
Written for Blackened Horde Zine
By: Pagan Hel
Natanas – Wyoming USA
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/xNatanasx
Genre: Black Doom Metal
Biography:
“Natanas are a one piece band that started in 2013, out of Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA. The sole member is Namtaräum. He performs vocals, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, violin and keyboards as well as produces. For over a decade, he has worked in the oil field. It is a rough place to be, outside in -30 weather working on the electronics that help natural gas and oil wells through the production phase. Prior to this he was a computer programmer by trade. He lives with his wife, three children, four cats and a dog.
Natanas‘ lyrical themes are generally misanthropic and occult. Musical style is very heavy on atmospheric elements, and is a blending of black metal, doom metal, and a dash of industrial from time to time. Eram numquam amicum vestrum was recorded one instrument at a time on cassette tape. These audio layers were then played into an audio interface and recorded onto an Ipad Air 2 for mixing and mastering. This album revolves around the turmoil caused by the crash in oil prices that decimated the finances, and changed the live of pretty much everyone I know. It focuses this topic through a lens of rage, and a vantage point of the otherworldly!”
~~~~~~
They say never mix business with pleasure but it seems that Namtaräum as in a different time zone when he recorded this, and why not mix both? I can imagine it being a very lonely place in minus 30 degrees and by the sound of ‘Operae nostrae vicaria cruenti’ it is a cruel track with visual sound effects that leave nothing to the imagination. It is riveting and disturbing as the atmospheric lures take hold and choose a place to fester in your mind. Being a long track of over six minutes it has time to impact and fuse with a very creative stance.
‘Nunc scitis quales’ delivers an even longer track of over seven minutes and is slower although still as disturbing as the last! It stalks in a meandering atmospheric way that haunts in tremendous fashion! It’s not black or white but rather a ‘grey’ turbulence that broods with a raw energy, and gives off all the right vibes for doom, as there are no vocals to get your audial around but a terrifying low whistling savagery that sounds as if it is coming up from the bowels of darkness.
‘Knulle dette livet’ Begins with some haunting little sounds that protrude in more of a startling manner but with the surrounding edginess becomes more condensed and solemn. The harsh rasping breath seethes as the track becomes more predominant with a monotone drum beat to support it, and yes even longer than the previous two tracks at over eight minutes.
‘Ficken kolossalen Totalausfall’ holds all the atmospherics you will ever need to fully engage in doom metal. Its meandering blackness is landscaped with the sound of echoing guitar strings and that slow vile rasping incessantness that gives it the edge and leaves its potent mark.
‘Omnia quisquiliae’ again slow and twisting with black tendrils that reach out into the atmosphere and chokes with urgency! It is brutal without being overboard on speed, but subtle and palpitating, the terrifying screams are clouded in mystery and sound in the distance which gives this track plenty to feast on.
‘Lythopoth’ opens its mouth and from it comes an eerie presence. It resonates in a jagged and choppy way, dulled and squalid the beats hypnotise with regular animosity, its brutal side meets its subtle side.
‘Est vita mea stercore’ this track possesses plenty of atmospherics once again. It’s increasingly raw and sculpted with plenty of bite be it a toxic noise that antagonises the ears and stirs up what sounds like a demonic encounter.
‘Insania vocantem’ implanting its starker side with a rich groove that almost leaves ‘fangs in the skin’ it festers broodily. Scathing and rhythmic but not in an all-out fashion it certainly engages and once again can be said of it that it holds a ‘deep maturity’ and very bold in its execution.
‘Eram numquam amicum vestrum’ the title track languishes in seductive blackness. It charms in only ways that can be described as bleak and twisted. It never lifts its head from the doom with its climate not reaching above zero.
‘Uterque proicit ampullas’ the final track holds more of what your ears would class as familiar with ample rhythm and scathing vocal breath that wouldn’t be out of place in a good old exorcism! The rhythmic lashings scathe the audial in a harsh tone and gives the mind a chance to paint its own pictures.
Quite an interesting album despite the tracks being so long and involved. The atmospherics make it what it is and the way it is arranged shows very much that it isn’t just thrown together but thought out in a mature manner.
The brutality seethes through its gnarly veins and offers a strange comfort to the people who wallow in this genre.
9/10
Track List:
Operae nostrae vicaria cruenti
Nunc scitis quales
Knulle dette livet
Ficken kolossalen Totalausfall
Omnia quisquiliae
Lythopoth
Est vita mea stercore
Insania vocantem
Eram numquam amicum vestrum
Uterque proicit ampullas
Members:
Namtaräum: Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, synth, mandolin, violin, mixing, and mastering