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Negurã Bunget - Mãiastru
Sfetnic
Flesh Perverse webzine, Rating: 8.5/10
Negurã Bunget episode three. In which Negurã
Bunget return
with a killer album in the same vein as the previous two, yet with
easily discernible improvements. This should be enough info for Negurã
Bunget fans,
who I'm sure are prepared to shell out for the new album. For those
still unfamiliar with NB, here are some details: Negurã Bunget are the best-known Romanian Black Metal band,
who have attracted world-wide appreciation since their 97 debut "Zîrnindu-sã". Their particular brand of Black Metal (Aryan Heathen Black
Metal, to be more precise) relies heavily on atmosphere, and when I say
atmosphere I don't mean cheesy COF-type rubbish, but a cold, archaic and
mysterious atmosphere well-suited to the ideological concept behind the
band (an arguably over-stretched attempt to incorporate elements of
Dacian/archaic Romanian folk culture in the music). "Maiastru
Sfetnic" has the same basic elements as "Zîrnindu-sã" and "Sala Molksa": a raw sound, mid-paced
tempo, tortured vocals, unusual riffs coupled with irregular and
frequently changing rhythms plus rather unremarkable keyboards. One
thing I find particularly appealing on "Mãiastru
sfetnic"
is the recurring presence of eerie, unsettling sounds, sometimes at an
almost subliminal level, which creep into the music to enhance the
overall effect. Thumbs up also for the improved songwriting and musical
arrangements, as well as the for the increased "listenability"
of the album and the inclusion of folk music elements (rare and not very
evident but still effective). On the other hand, the production is not
exactly faultless, and once again the drumming is a problem. I'm not
only referring to the weak drum sound in the production, but also to Negru's unorthodox drumming style, which is not
always appropriate to the music (sometimes you have to realize that you
just can't go wrong with good old blasting). But despite these minor
shortcomings, Negurã Bunget is a quality band with high potential and clear individuality, so
get "Mãiastru Sfetnicãiastru Sfetnicãiastru Sfetnic"
now!
Review of Negura's
"Maiastru sfetnic" at Flesh Perverse webzine (http://fleshperv.cjb.net,
http://dysangelium.cjb.net).
Check it out!
Negurã Bunget - Sala Molksa
Erebus Magazine webzine
Occasionally I receive an album, an unexpected recording, which not only
stimulates my imagination, but alters my view of what can be done within
a specific genre altogether without having to dilute or pollute the
product. It does not happen too often. But in the case of Negurã Bunget's "Sala molksa", I am afraid that it has
happened. Again. I will not mince words about it. Sala
Molksa is brilliant! It is technical, original, emotional,
subtle... in short, it is everything I enjoy in this type of music,
compressed into a near half-hour of sonic rapture. Perhaps my
opinion will surprise more than a few, but it is no matter.
Indeed, I have heard the first release of this Romanian band; "Zîrnindu-sã",
and it did not move me a great deal. "Zîrnindu-sã" was an enjoyable, raw chunk of music, but there was as yet
an undeniable tinge of youthful naiveté in its compositions.
Which, when I think about it, is in fact one of the reasons I enjoyed it
at all. It was simple but pure. "Sala molksa" is
a more involved work compositionally, but the rudiments remain
unchanged. What Primordial
do with their Irish culture, Negurã Bunget do with theirs. They manage to unite distinctly Romanian
folklore melody (this, at least, from what I understand) and creative
black metal into one unified composition. Given this cultural aspect,
the band members remind us that their music is of a spiritual character,
much of which is evinced in their lyrics, a focus on "dacic"
culture, primitive religion and what-have-you. They are one of the
few black metal bands remaining today that emphasize spirituality and
knowledge rather than hatred and war, a particular that I find much more
stimulating than a simple inversion of Christian beliefs (although that,
too, can be quite thrilling if done well). Today they consist of
three members, Hupogrammos
Disciple's,
Negru
and Spurcatu,
who all seem to agree that their lyrics are to be written exclusively in
their native language rather than English. They have deviated from the
pattern briefly on "Sala molksa", as there is one
English song that deals with something like numerology. I cannot
make too much sense out of it. But the gist of the matter here is
that, English speaking or Romanian, Negurã Bunget is a great band, refreshing, profound and far away from the black
metal 'status quo' - a rare beast indeed in this time when most
musicians have self-destroyed the movement. Would it be worth
anything to you to call them the Romanian Abigor? Probably not. But it fits all my criteria at any rate: no
thrash, no heavy metal, no rock and roll: just creative, unadulterated,
pure black metal.
Yury Arkady - Erebus Magazine (http://fly.to/erebus)
Negurã Bunget - Sala molksa
Mare Tenebrarum Fanzine (Hungary) #3 '99
I
think everybody has got a favorite band, which stands above the other
bands. Well, Negurã Bunget is my special favorite one. The previous album fascinated me a lot
with its cold and unique Black Metal music, so I shall tell you that
I've waited a lot their new release. Firstly, I must mention that the
layout of the MC and MCD is great and doesn't follow the usually Black
Metal cover concepts. Of course the music is so great too. The 27
minutes long release begins with a long, slow and dragging ode. It can't
be described its cold and its peevish atmosphere, it must be heard! In
the background we hear burning fires and howling wolves. After this slow
long the hell breaks loose. It's unbelievable this raging storm, this
battle of all devils, which is performed in three parts. Near crushing
guitars which has got a perfect sound, and enchanting, cold keyboards,
and drums, which turn out heaven and hell, sometimes the sound of
shepherd's pipe and horns is appearing. the lyrics which are written
archaic Romanian except one, which is written in English, tells the
spirituality of ancient Transylvania, the mystic and old land which is
surrounded by the Carpathians, and magic circle of rivers, where so many
nations have lived together through 6000 years. At The end it appears
again the theme of the first song in a shorter version, which frames
this mini album.
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Negurã Bunget - Zîrnindu-sã
Ledo Takas (Lithuania) Issue 7, June '99
Here
is that recording you may have been looking for a long time, and could
not find. A new breath of death is losing its glory black metal scene!
The tape album, which has brought a huge attention to Transylvanian duo
it has been already re-released on CD by Breath of Night, and the action was absolutely worth of the music, spirit
and anger, which flows from "Zîrnindu-sã". By the way, this is their second session, after debut From
Transylvanian Forests demo, and even the recording quality could be
better, it matters less. Negurã Bunget do not perform any superb modern or avantgarde
black metal, they stick to old school of pure black metal, thus drawing
ideas from Norwegian scene. However, there are plenty of gems denying
any unoriginality on tape. Hupogrammos Disciple's vocal style is so
terrifying and rude - you could hear something similar only on Helheim's
debut recording last track. As well, he has put amazingly eerie haunting
background with mystic keyboards. there are some of them, but not too
much. No cheese! Another master - a drummer Black Pharmakeya Peporomenee.
His rhythms are sometimes pretty odd, hard to get in, especially when
you consider it black metal music. Guy must be a heavy skilled musician!
A pity that production deadens his abilities... Find a brilliant colored
cover with Transylvanian landscapes and (of course) native tongue lyrics
to end up the spells. Negurã Bunget has put a curse on the planet! Hail and honor new Transylvanian
kings!
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