North - Na Polach Bitew

Not only does the cover of Na Polach Bitew recall Graveland’s Creed of Iron, Rob Darken contributed artwork to the release. Add the song title “Symbol of the Sun,” as well as the fact that North appears on the upcoming Eastern Hammer split with Graveland and Nokturnal Mortum, and my NSBM alarm bells are ringing double-time.

Then again, I can’t read the Polish lyrics, and pagan doesn’t necessarily equal NS. So, until I see a translation of the lyrics, I’ll comment solely on the music. North plays “pagan war metal” with a black metal framework. The seven tracks here are somewhat similar, with plentiful blasting, melodic tremolo picking, assertive growls and rasps, and an old-school Bathory feel. The production preserves rawness while retaining clarity, especially in the low end.

While the music would make a great soundtrack for battle, I really wish I understood the lyrics. I don’t know if I should be fighting alongside or against these guys, or simply observing from afar. Every dollar/euro spent is a political decision, and I don’t believe in uninformed political decisions. Thus, I won’t recommend for or against this album. The music is good, and I’ll leave it at that.

You can find this album at Pagan and Moribund.