Band: Grima
Album: Nightside
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: Russia
Label: Napalm Records
Released: 28. February, 2025
Introduction
One of the biggest names out or Russia these days, Grima are back with their new album, Nightside. This release comes three years after their album Frostbitten from 2022. The band consists of the duo Morbius and Vilhelm, who are twins, and are accompanied by Vlad Yungman and Denis Susarev. They are all also playing together in the post-black metal band Ultar.
I’m not a massive listener of atmospheric black metal, but I must admit that Grima is an atmo-band that I’ve been drawn to more than others, so this release is highly anticipated. I’m sure I’m not alone in my anticipation!
Nightside
Tracklist:
- Intro (Cult)
- Beyond the Dark Horizon
- Flight of the Silver Storm
- Skull Gatherers
- Impending Death Premonition
- The Nightside
- Where We Are Lost
- Curse of the Void
- Mist and Fog
- Outro (Memories of a Forgotten Home)
As a humble tarnished, I travelled the Lands Between when I first heard this album. Grima‘s new album was finally released, and I put it on as fast as I saw it available. Their signature accordion sets in as I travel through the astonishing landscape of Elden Ring. The tension keeps building up until Beyond the Dark Horizon comes crushing in with nasty groovy riffs and, on top, the cold shrieks of Vilhelm. I am no longer a humble tarnished…
The atmosphere seems tailor-made for the mood this game is giving me as I first listen through the album. In the following days, I listened to Nightside multiple times in other situations. And Grima opens up a portal every time: it takes me to a state of calmness. With a touch of melancholy created by the sadness of the accordion. Flight of the Silver Storm’s intro is a fantastic example of this burdened melody.
Nature and winter are things that Grima manifests. Their aesthetics portrays this aswell, with faces hidden behind wooden masks that reminisce the ents from Tolkien’s work are to be found on the band members and their cover art as well. It’s become a binding contract between mother Russia and mother earth that is translated through all Grimas albums.
This is precisely what was to be expected for a new Grima release. Some songs do fall abit short to my liking and are not too memorable, which is why the rating didn’t go higher than it did. But Grima stays true to their sound and image, and that’s what I tuned in for, in the first place.
Conclusion
With deep roots in atmosphere, sadness, longing, and frost bitten nature, Nightside combines these roots and grows into a massive release. I think Nightside will be highly praised by both black metal indoctrinated listeners and fans of other genres. This is due to their polished production, the use of folk instruments, the important heart gripping accordion and the magnitude of feeling this band awakes in its listeners. Be it melancholy, sadness or raw power, there are sections and tracks for them all.
Listen to this album as a whole and really sit down with it for the best experience. If you need any good taste samples from this album first, I’d recommend Flight of the Silver Storm and Skull Gatherers to start with.
BMZ Rating: 8.5 / 10
Support Grima here: https://grima.bandcamp.com/album/nightside
Your thoughts on Grima
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