Northern – Cabin Fever
New Hampshire / USA
Sinistrari Records
Northern (formerly known as Cold Northern Vengeance) will soon release their second full-length album entitled “Cabin Fever” via Sinistrari Records.
The latest album from these New Hampshire harbingers of death is a cold and furious blast of gut-wrenching pagan/black metal darkness that will unequivocally raise a few dead souls. The atmosphere on this album is morose and beautifully melancholic, which is ideal for a snowy and isolated winter setting. Deep and abrasive howls are belched out atop an array of glacial riffs and swift, well-executed drums. The vocals are effectively delivered, powerful and quite comprehensible. The production is unpolished and veritably raw, which is quite fitting to the overall atmosphere. Tempo-wise, it ranges from fast to mid-pace to slower, more brooding passages. Each song on this album sounds like it was recorded in one take, which adds to its charm. However, the production does sound a little inconsistent on some of the tracks.
“Cabin Fever” is one of those albums you need to listen to when you’re alone in the woods with a couple of beers, or just taking a hike on a cold day. Don’t mistake it for some fruity post-black metal outfit. The tone is rancid and grim.