Reviewed - 09/05/04

Process of Life Separation
[Crash Music]

I can see the arguments now. Every time a band pops up with this sound the arguments begin over whether of not they should be called black metal or death metal… or blackened death metal. Similar to Naglfar, Tidfall, and the like, Ninnuam inhabit a slightly gray area in extreme metal. The core of the sound seems thoroughly blackened and a little symphonic, but the heaviness of their sound has more in common with death. Fuck labels. I'm going to refer to Ninnuam as deathened black metal since I think that's funny and descriptive. Seriously though, I guess it's obvious that Ninnuam don't have a highly original sound, so what makes them so special?

To be honest, the element that makes them so special eludes me, but I know it's there. I can listen to this album and just be hooked on it and not know why. The songs are simply excellent, but don't seem to do anything immediately special. There's something very real and even accessible about these guys - often referred to as the X factor - even though they are playing music that is not the least bit accessible (at least by normal definitions) and generally is more fantasy than reality. I think it comes down to the sincerity of the band itself. If they are doing music that genuinely flows from them, it shows. As the renowned violinist Itzhak Perlmen said, "If you just recite, it's not as meaningful." I think too many bands are just reciting metal ideas instead of letting the metal flow out of them with purpose. Not so with Ninnuam.

The production is excellent and really shows how heavy this band is. It also allows their energy to show through. I'm betting they have a killer live show. Their guitar tone is a perfect metal tone. The drums have just the right kick to them while retaining a slightly live feel. The keyboards are used throughout, but are never overbearing at all. The vocals are fairly dynamic and excellently produced, but retain a bit of an emotive, raw quality. They don't feel like they are buried in effects like so many other bands. Maybe I've just become a bit sensitive to that, but a lot of bands rely heavily on certain effects to make their vocals harsh. While I don't really mind that at all as long as it sounds good, it's nice to hear a vocalist who doesn't really need that to sound great, or at the very least, a producer who doesn't make it obvious that effects are being used. Regardless, I just don't have any complaints about this band or this album. If you want some really good extreme metal that is memorable and enjoyable, Ninnuam is your band.