Monumentomb

Arrghhh, an album, which I was waiting for, “Monumentomb” from the Swedish death squadron called Nominon, came out through Blood Harvest Records, with – as usual – cool front artwork and really nice, old styled layout. Sadly I didn’t manage to get the LP with a bonus 100 copies limited 7”EP – one day someone will have to sell me one though, otherwise I’ll cut his throat - but I’m happy to have a regular version of the vinyl. Nominon obviously walks their own path of thrashing death metal made in Sverige and all those, who enjoyed the previous releases from them, surely won’t feel disappointed. The band kept their quality and even the sudden departure of the previous vocalist didn’t hurt “Monumentomb”, especially as they’ve hired Erik Sahlström – known from such bands as Maze of Torment, Serpent Obscene, General Surgery – as their studio session vokiller (with additional help of Tore Stjerna in one song and Johan Thornberg (ex Insision) in one also), so he’s not a newcomer, but experienced screamer. It all clicked quite easily.

If you happen not to know Nominon yet, then I guess the best way to describe the style and sound of this band on this LP is to mention such bands as Merciless, Maze of Torment, Tribulation, Stench, Kaamos, Crown of Thorns (so early The Crown) – so, Swedish bands, which play death metal, but mixed with a lot of old styled thrash. You won’t really find here many resemblances to the usual Swedish stuff like Dismember, Entombed or Grave, maybe just some occasional riffs will remind you those bands. Instead there may be some resemblances to Unleashed (“Archfiend”!!!), even Bloodbath (“Mantra Reverse”)… So, obviously the music is going to smash you, it is constantly punching you in the face with aggression, ferocity and even some blast beats will make you cry for mercy! But there are also many hooks, which will help you to memorize some of those tracks – luckily, as without them the whole album would probably sound terribly monotonous and each song would seem to be a copy of the previous one. So, there will be “Mantra Reverse” to smash you with some excellent, fast riffing – definitely one of the highlights of this album, with a great doomy mid part, which actually sounds like an Autopsy riff mixed with Entombed - and then there’s also “Undead Beast”, which will catch your attention with the growl-along type of chorus. And if you feel a bit of a neck ache, after first three fast and merciless songs “Kevorkian Exit” will help you to catch the breath with more mid tempo and almost sorrowful, at times also melodic, playing.

“Monumentomb” do not really bring anything new and fresh to already conventional genre. To be honest I don’t even think this is the best of Nominon full lengths. In many parts it even sounds kind of mediocre, but still solid enough to enjoy it. Personally I would probably expect a bit more from such an established band, something truly more killer and devastating, but from the other hand I cannot say that “Monumentomb” is a failure. As I already mentioned, it is solid and good record, with many killer parts and some particular songs are worth the bloodshed.
Standout tracks: “Mantra Reverse”, “Archfiend”

At last came out this, literally speaking, monumental work of death metal, which was already announced by that bestial piece called "Omen". Well, that was only a sedative before this IN-CRE-DI-BLE album!! Everything is perfect here, in terms of sound, composition and execution!! Juha, Per, Anders and (Anti)Christian know how to do things. It's a shame that Daniel has left the band, but the reasons are totally understandable. The same with Anders, who also step aside to give his current band PUTERAEON a bit of a push.

Despite of all the adversities happened during the recording session of this album (including swaping patches in the drum kit), NOMINON threw a great album that sounds dark, intense, and brutal… (obviously, as they recorded it in Necromorbus with Tore Stjerna), and adding some important guests vocalists such Eric Sahlström (General Surgery) in almost the entire album and Johan "Barsk" Thornberg (of the bestial Insision) for the song “Wrath Of Shiva”, though nowadays they are with another beast called Henke Skoog (ex-Eviscerated).

Monumentomb is loaded with a lot double bass-drums and blastbeat parts (it was definitively a good move for Per to stay away from the exquisitive alcohol during some time.. hahaha!!), contagious riffs where Juha plays with some complex and cutting paces with this Swedish sound, in the most pure style of the great old names like Carnage, Edge Of Sanity and Dismember. So, you need to start working out your neck, because songs like “Mantra Reverse”, “Archfiend”, “Kevorikan Exit”, “Omen”, “Mountain Of Hate” (it has a lot of airs to Criminal in the epoch of Sicario’s album), “Worm” or “Wrath Of Shiva” won't allow you to stop headbanging, specially the last tune, where Johan Thornberg's voice came out infernal!!!

F666
Apocalyptic 'zine #2

I can't help but love death metal; especially the Stockholm styled Swedish death metal. In fact, some would say it's an addiction for me. When you find yourself at 3am in the morning sitting in front of your laptop with Metal Archives, eBay and various online distros open over a plethora of browsers just to research as much as you can about it, you suddenly realise it's turned into a bit of an obsession. But yes, I'm a metal geek and proud. Thus, any chance of reviewing any album that sounds anything that takes it's main influence from Entombed, Dismember or Unleashed soon has me sitting up excitedly with large pupils and dry mouth in anticipation.

Nominon are a Power Metal band from Italy... just kidding. Of course, they're Swedish and play Sunlight studios styled death metal. Monumentomb is their 4th full length album recorded at Necromorbus studio in Sweden. Although they formed in the early 90s releasing a handful of demos, they only got around to releasing their debut full length in 1999. So, even though they're not truly old school, they've still been around for a fair time to become somewhat veterans themselves. Their music blends the old Swedish sound with some newer tricks learned by the likes of Vomitory (the cleaner production helps keep things a little crisper than some of the uglier, gnarlier Swedish death metal). But thankfully the buzz-saw guitars, gruff vocals and pounding drums are all kept intact reeking of just about any Stockholm styled band of worth.

Each track spews forth an unholy stream of fast, heavy and filthy death metal that sounds as though it's been dredged from the depths of the river Styx, slowing occasionally to add in an eerie section reminiscent of the dying embers of Entombed's 'Left Hand Path'. There's no thrash throwbacks or black metal posturing to be heard here this is pure death metal, just the way you want it. I can't really ask for much more from these guys, they tick all the boxes for a prime re-enactment of the classic bands from the very early 90s. Every sound you hear on this record sounds as though it has been primed for pure annihilation of the senses - a must for any fanatic like myself.

Originally written for www.metalteamuk.net

I saw Nominon live for the first time about a month ago, and it was an absolutely arse-shredding experience. I also got the opportunity to briefly chat with Perra and get a promo of Monumentomb, their latest album that I still hadn’t heard. Unfortunately I had to leave fairly early in the evening and had to miss out on the afterparty drinking I was promised by Perra. But at least I left with a great feeling, having finally seen this monster of a band live.

As I said Monumentomb is their latest fullength, and last year we got a little taste of what was to come with the Omen EP; a release that definitely got my juices flowing. But after listening through this album a few times I can easily state that Nominon have surpassed my expectations, as this is nothing but a rager. The vocals are still handled by a few different guys. While Erik Sahlström does most of the heavy lifting both Tore Stjerna and Johan Thornberg pops in for a song each. I guess future recordings will have Henke Skoog (who did an awesome job live) on vocals, but he must’ve been recruited after this recording.

Anywho, Erik Sahlström’s gory and extremely potent growl fits the bill to perfection, and I dare say it’s one of the most powerful old school vocal deliveries I’ve heard in quite a while. Musically we all know by now what to expect from Nominon, which is pretty much nothing but old school death metal, and of an extremely great variant. Many bands today just rehash old ideas over and over again, and I can’t help but to feel a bit bored by some of the more popular acts around, like for instance Dismember. But as soon as Mantra reverse gets going I know I’m in for a treat…

With a hefty production, giving the guitars a truly chainsaw-like sound, the fast drumming and oh-so-sweet screaming gets the adrenaline pumping. As they slow things down (we’re still just in Mantra reverse) a few moments of ambience can be heard before the slick riffing sets in once again. A talent they possess is to actually write and deliver interesting riffs, and as mentioned before not just reusing the same old ideas we’ve all heard hundreds of times before. Inspiration feels taken from both the Swedish and Finnish old school scenes as well as the North and South American ones. There’s something about a track like Archfiend that feels extremely Swedish, but still with that old South American ferocity to it. Mountain of hate has a heavily thrashing edge to it while Wrath of Shiva is the most brutal track of the lot with its extremely heavy chugging riffs and deeper growls to fit the bill.

It’s an all-round solid release filled with catchy riffing, versatile drumming that keeps the level of interest high and great vocals from all three lads. While the more thrashing material isn’t really up my alley I can’t deny its attraction, as it’s delivered with such energy and written with attention to details. I’m sure people will complain about both this and that, but I’m still sold.

Originally written for http://www.mylastchapter.net

Nominon's presence in the death metal world has always ensured sounds of the dirty old school variety are alive and well in a sea of overly produced and digitised releases clogging up the name of this once proud genre, diluting the raw power of what was always meant to be a humane yet darkly evocative music genre. Alongside names like Kaamos, HOD, Destruktor and Tribulation, Swedes Nominon take influence from older artists such as Unleashed and Entombed with the result on this fourth studio album being a no frills and no bullshit, honest sounding death metal record.

Within any genre where great care is taken to uphold the sounds and values of old the possibility of reinventing the wheel is virtually impossible, but this unavoidable fact doesn't hinder Nominon's listenable and engaging take on the genre nor prohibit them from being a band that should be checked out by all fans of death metal. Songs like "Undead Beast", "Mountain Of Hate" and "Wrath Of Shiva" are brutal, well-written and at times, catchy, death metal tunes that ring with extra resonance following my recent complaints of albums sounding hideously digitised and processed - in this game there is no overly-saturated sound to hide behind if you can't write a decent riff. In these 9 mid-length songs the level of quality is high throughout with an obvious nod given to their live potential; "Undead Beast" the one sounding most likely to be a hoot live.

"Monumentomb" exhibits an all-round improvement in songwriting and performance from my previous experience with the band, 2005's "Recremation", such that it lays out a unique identity for Nominon, rather than portraying them as mere clones of the dark old-school death metal vibe. They may not be doing anything brand new across these 40 minutes but for what they are attempting Nominon have done it very well throughout the whole of "Monumentomb".

Originally written for www.Rockfreaks.net