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Nefarium > Haeretichristus > Reviews
Nefarium - Haeretichristus

Excellent black metal... from Italy? - 95%

Necropsychotic, May 31st, 2009

Nefarium has really come out of left field. I do not exactly remember how I even heard of them. Well, for starters, they are an obscure black metal band from a heavily religious country, Italy. It is actually a surprise that they have not been stopped by religious authorities due to their highly blasphemous music. Perhaps they are just so far underground that nobody of significance took notice. Hopefully it will remain that way for a while.

This band has a rather evil atmosphere on this album. They play so tightly and efficiently and still manage to play at breakneck speeds. For starters, the guitars on this album are the driving force, as everything else tends to take a back seat to them. Their blazing riffs just take flight and are unrelenting to the ill-prepared ear. They are well-placed on the album, just segueing into one another so smoothly. The lead guitarist plays fantastic leads that add a dimension to Haeretichristus all on his own. Without the lightning leads on this album, the album would lose so much of its fire and drive that it would probably be rendered useless and generic. The leads take the album to the next level that Nefarium needed to keep a high level of interest on the album. As I implied with the previous statement, without the lead guitarist, Nefarium would be nothing.

The bass, drums, and vocals are mixed pretty low on this album, holding it back from a perfect score. However, each are still audible. The bass mostly follows the rhythm guitar. That is not a complaint, however, as the rhythm guitar is pretty fast in its own right; the fact that the bassist can keep up with the guitar is impressive. The drums are your standard black metal fare. Blasting, blasting and more blasting. However, the drummer's ability to blast away at such high tempos is mindblowing. He is an impressive drummer, to say the least. As I said before I could not really hear anything other than the snare and double pedals due to poor mixing, one can only imagine his fury on the drumkit. The vocalist was perhaps the most evil aspect on this album, however. He had a demonic presence throughout the entire album, with his blasphemous rasps, tortured shrieks and devil-like gutturals. He was a man possessed on this album. Not for nothing, this corpse paint makes him look like a spawn of hell as well, but that's beside the point. He must be one menacing SOB in the studio. He has some of the most chilling vocals I have ever heard. He is a highly talented gentleman, with the ability to scream forth such powerful blasphemous litanies and play the guitar with such tenacity.

To conclude, this is a highly recommended album that will come out of left field. Agonia Records hit home on this hidden gem. They did well in signing this band. Nefarium can only get better with each release. I can only hope that more people are opened up to this band and its majestic talent.

Stunning - 90%

blastheart, March 14th, 2008

The first time I heard about NEFARIUM I thought they were joking. A satanic black metal band from Italy? Really, no way. But then I thought about it. I actually have another black metal band from Italy and that's DRACONIAN ORDER. But they are not even half as evil as NEFARIUM are.
When I found out more about them I discovered that Chaq Mol (DARK FUNERAL) and Infaustus (SETHERIAL) helped them out with this album so I thought that would be worth checking out.
And it was!
NEFARIUM plays uptempo black metal alá DARK FUNERAL/MARDUK/1349 and does it with pride. The first track "Lucifer's Betrayal" is an awsome blasting feast that really brings up the mood. But then the absolute highlight of the album comes.
"The Damned Dsecent" are probarbly one of the best BM songs I have ever heard. Beautiful guitar harmonies and some really awsome blast-beats topped by Carnifex's amazing haunting vocals really makes my day.
And the rest of the album just keeps up the mood! "Doctrina Haereticorum" and "138 Bastard Priests Murdered" are some excellent pieces along with "Merchants Of Hope" and the brilliant "Sin Of Apostle".
If you are looking for some awsome black metal then NEFARIUM is something for you. And as far as I'm concerned Chaq Mol and Infaustus should focus a little more on their own bands cause their latest efforts are not impressing a real black metal fanatic.