Nôidva - Windseller (2020)

Delivering even more of that good old Melodic Black Metal from the late 90’s/early 2000’s, today we have Finland’s Nôidva and their debut EP “Windseller”. Featuring six intense tracks filled with catchy riffs, gaudy (in a good way) atmospherics and devilish vocals, this release will surely resonate with fans of Ancient, Limbonic Art, Tartaros and even early Emperor.

Blowing the lid off on this release, we have the intense title track leading the band’s efforts. Combining lively guitars, crafty drums, and a playful combination of atmospheric elements and raw vocals, this song creates a very engaging and catchy atmosphere, with a certain sinister edge to it. While the music is not overly complex, the straightforward guitars of “Followers of the North Star” create a very metallic and powerful mood, with that old-school vibe that productions used to have in the past.

Shaking things up, the ritualistic “Häilän Joiku” is the perfect lead into the dramatic “Into Polar Nights”, a song that is brilliantly melodic and punishingly harsh at the same time. We particularly enjoy how the furious guitars are framed by a throbbing bass guitar line. Having a certain Folky edge, “Eclipsed by Goathi’s Blood” is one of those enjoyable tracks that leads way to massive amounts of headbanging.

Closing with a certain Windir/Thyrfing edge, “Vindictive Old Ones” brings this release to a close in a very engaging way. Overall, “Windseller” showcases a very intense band that nicely brings back some nostalgic elements into the genre. We are quite pleased with the way the songs deliver unique aspects of the band and yet manage to craft a cohesive musical core. If you want old-school Melodic Black Metal with minimalist keyboards, you better check out Nôidva.

Label: Purity Through Fire

Release: April 11th, 2020

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Finland