Neraines - Fenrir Prowling (Black Metal)

Neraines' third album Fenrir Prowling is the pinnacle of epic atmospheric black metal. Its sheer complexity is incredible, and the performance is amazing. If this isn't black metal perfection, what is? The band manages to top even their previous record, the legendary Yggdrasil, and record this complete and utter masterpiece of black metal Fenrir Prowling, allegedly a tribute to Varg Vikernes of Burzum, another black metal legend in his own right.

Fenrir Prowling feels like the natural follow up to the mythical Yggdrasil, albeit slightly more aggressive and a little less atmospheric, as it blurs the lines between melody and intensity. Many black metal pioneers emphasised on simplicity, but it seems like Neraines completely discarded that trend for this record, as the sheer complexity of Fenrir Prowling resembles that of a classical composition more so than any other black metal release, except maybe The Epilogue to Sanity or early Vermin. There's so much going on at once that you will feel violently transported to an infernal world of chaos, and the magnitude of different layers adds a lot of depth to the epic compositions of this record.

Though less atmosphere driven than its predecessor Yggdrasil, the atmosphere isn't completely gone from Fenrir Prowling, only somewhat different as it has more of a darker, harsher and sometimes medieval vibe to it. There's both pure and brutal black metal riffs, along with more melodic riffs, complimented by the brilliant leads over rushing power chords, sometimes consonant, sometimes dissonant, yet always perfectly eerie and atmospheric. The guitar work on Fenrir Prowling is excellent, with unbelievably complex, fast and technical riffage played flawlessly. The depth of the compositions, from the opener "To Feed a Lupine God" down to the majestic title track, is simply breathtaking, and the atmosphere is concurrently gruesome, morbid and yet totally beautiful and bewitching. If you like black metal, you must own this album Fenrir Prowling.