Northern – Cabin Fever (2020)
USA
Sinistrari Records
Spawned from the ashes of Cold Northern Vengeance, Northern is a four-piece featuring mastermind Heathen (CNV, Martyrvore, Ancestral Shadows), including members from bands like Desolate and December Wolves. “Cabin Fever” is the band's second release, an 7” EP featuring two tracks of fierce and deadly black/death that radiates pure fucking evil. The raw production is very fitting to the music and the band does a good job at capturing an atmosphere redolent of their environment. The lyrics on this EP are quite interesting, with 'Hypothermia' being about how hikers from urban areas end up freezing to death in the New Hampshire mountains, whereas 'Cabin Fever' mentions burying Jehovah's Witnesses in the woods. These two songs are very well-arranged and cohesive, featuring some truly excellent riffs and an otherworldly atmosphere that does a good job at drawing the listener in. The vocalist emits a powerful and menacing growl that is perfect for this style. Worth mentioning is the fact that Northern doesn't really sound like Cold Northern Vengeance and embraces a more black/death style, whereas the former had a wider palette of influences. Overall, I don't really have anything to complain about, as this is a solid release through and through. This EP gets my highest recommendation. (HT)