Nightside - Lions (2023)

Perfectly capitalizing on their 2021 return, cult outfit Nightside has managed to crawl from the depths of hell to unleash one brilliant ode to the days of 90’s uncompromising and punishing Black Metal. Featuring three songs and labeled as a demo, “Lions” showcases the band’s undeniable talent and blistering execution of the dark arts while putting all the posers and copycats to shame.

Opening with the pummeling “There Won't Be Another Dawn”, you get the quintessential Finnish Black Metal riffing onslaughts with some additional atmospherics to enhance the band’s furious presence. With two original members, and a few others that have long trajectories in the scene, this track is as furious and polished as they come, a perfect lead-up to the album title track and its hypnotic melodic passages.

Closing with the piercing “Gates of Hell”, the band delivers one last swift blow that will have you asking both for mercy and for more. Filled with both rage and yet subtle and crafty atmospherics, this release reminds us of early Algazanth, Satanic Warmaster, and similar outfits. If you are feeling a bit retro, but appreciate solid production values and engaging songwriting, this is a release you can’t sleep on.

Label: Purity Through Fire

Release: April 21st, 2023

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Finland