COUNTRY: Sweden
YEAR: 2007
STAND-OUT TRACK(S): All of them … but if I have to choose a top 5, then Infernal Flame of Destruction, Open the Gates of Damnation, Storm of the Reaper, Raging Flames & No More Life.
STAND-OUT TRACK(S): All of them … but if I have to choose a top 5, then Infernal Flame of Destruction, Open the Gates of Damnation, Storm of the Reaper, Raging Flames & No More Life.
Niflheimr (Old Icelandic for "Dark World") is, according solely to the Prose Edda, a realm of icy coldness in the far north of the world. Its southern counterpart is Muspellheimr. Nifelheim was a Swedish black metal band. The band was formed in 1990 by the twin brothers Erik and Per Gustavsson, under the stage names Tyrant and Hellbutcher. The band is known for their "old school" style of black metal.
They recorded their demo tape "Unholy Death" between 1992 and 1993. The band signed to Necropolis Records and recorded the debut album Nifelheim at Studio Fredman. During this period the band fired their first guitarist "Morbid Slaughter" for having a girlfriend. After this they were joined by John Zwetsloot and Jon Nödtveidt of Dissection on guitars. The band was banned from the studio for some reason.
Tyrant and Hellbutcher are twins and are known for their extreme love of everything Iron Maiden. They usually follow them around during Iron Maiden's tours and see multiple shows all over the world. Tyrant once said in an interview when he got the question what he would do if there was a fire in his apartment and his Iron Maiden collection were about to go up in flames. "I would lay in the middle of my collection in fetal position and burn up with them".
Nifelheim plays old-school black metal inspired by classic bands like Venom, Bathory, Brazilian thrash metal bands Vulcano, Holocausto and Sarcófago and Czech Master's Hammer. The influence of Iron Maiden is also evident in some arrangements.
"Envoy of Lucifer" was recorded strictly analogue from May 4 - June 28, 2007, at Ace Tone Studios, Stockholm. Mastered at Tailormaid Mastering Studio, Stockholm on August 4, 2007.
OPINION: I might be biased, but this is for me perfection. I have listened to this record for 18 years now and I love every single tone that comes out of the speakers. I have known Tyrant and Hellbutcher ever since I had a record store in Stockholm, Sweden in around the time this was released and they are friendly awesome guys with an extreme knowledge of everything awesome obscure metal.
Apart from Hellbutcher, lyrics were written by Erik Danielsson (Watain) and Set Teitan (Dissection/Watain), so you know for sure they know what they’re talking about when it comes to the dark side.
Most Nifelheim fans would rate the bands debut album ”Nifelheim” (1994) as their #1, but for me this is the bands best album. I love everything about it, every tone and every twist in the arrangements. I remember how we tought it was an eternity between ”Servants of Darkness” (2000) and this that came out seven years later. Now it has been 18 years since this one, and I hope it’s not the last … but right now it looks like it. With that said, Hellbutchers soloalbum feels like a new Nifelheim album.
