Germany’s Groza has always been that 3.0rn in my side. While other bands have toyed with greatness that sends my head for a loop, albums Unified in Void and The Redemptive End have hemorrhaged potential, only to squander it on safe compositions. Owing Mgła just as much for their namesake and as their subtle and interwoven melodic style, while likewise hinting post-black, Groza has been releasing pleasant melodic black metal since 2016. This is part of what makes Nadir a bit of a “make or break” situation: the trio can choose to set out on their own or continue to dwell in Mgła’s shadow.1
Nadir represents a slight stylistic shift. While Groza retains its signature tremolo interwoven with crystalline melody, there is more post-black melody and rawer guitar to drive its darker tones. Featuring six tracks of meditative black metal, highlighted by textures of melodies and vicious vocals, you can expect an evocative listen that sweeps listeners away to a ruined world: scorched, desolate, but undeniably beautiful. Anchored by guitarist U.A.’s powerfully composed guitar leads and layers of melody, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist P.G.’s desperate shrieks and bellowing shouts, and T.H.Z.’s thunderous percussion, it’s consistently and competently built from minimalist foundations. While Groza remains stubbornly “good,” it’s a step in the right direction.
Groza does little to separate from the shadows of Mgła or Uada but Nadir is a far more scathing affair. From the shift of the 4/4 intro “Soul: Inert” to 6/8 “Asbest,” it feels like the second-wave teeth are bared throughout. The best tracks find a balance between the extremes of blackened intensity and melodic serenity. The textured guitars, and layers of melodies, are a conclusion whose build-ups revolve around vicious tremolo guided by manic shrieks, best actualized in tracks like “Dysthymian Dreams” and “Deluge.” These feature melodies seared into the brain with nearly melodeath heft, while good uses of spoken word among plucking calmness add charisma and a hush with bated breath. The most traditionally second-wave black metal rears its head in “Equal. Silent. Cold.,” the crystalline plucking granting the track an icy showering quality. Like fellow countrymen Harakiri for the Sky, Groza has an ear for melody, with fluid movement between disharmony and melody giving way to beautiful resolutions. The final track “Daffodils” features the most intense climax of the album, the buildup hitting immense satisfaction thanks to featured guests J.J. and M.S. of Harakiri and Karg, as well as choir provided by the Bandhouse crew. Percussion contrasts with the scathing intensity, providing a thunderous undercurrent that resounds best as mid-tempo dirges. Groza’s rawer sound does Nadir justice.
Nadir’s weakness is inconsistency. Every track aboard Nadir is pleasant, but Groza’s other tracks fall short compared to the highlights. “Asbest,” although its melody is one of the better on the album, jarringly switches to more minor and weaker movements halfway through. While the tasteful second-wave rawness elevates “Equal. Silent. Cold.,” its somewhat protracted length damages its memorability; blurring into a weaker version of “Dysthymian Dreams” by the end. Even the central melody of “Daffodils” is exhausting before the buildup enters to redeem it. Furthermore, while Nadir is ubiquitously pleasant, it remains far too safe. Groza finds itself locked into its own melodies, so any wavering from it feels ultimately damaging in these tracks; its safety is its worst enemy. While the percussion is solid and thunderous, tracks like “Asbest” and “Dysthymian Dreams” can lose blastbeats to the wild tremolo, and we forfeit our tether to the enjoyable cacophony.
Groza is always pleasant and Nadir’s rawer direction does not undermine that trademark. While it vaguely distances itself from the likes of Mgła or Uada and is a step on the right path, it has not escaped that shadow yet. With tracks like “Dysthymian Dreams” and “Deluge” leading the charge with the best music being released by this trio yet in their trademark usage of poignant melody, it’s hard to imagine future releases not being the stirring compositions that these guys are so clearly capable of. As it stands, though, Nadir keeps Groza in 3.0-land: good, but awaiting an amplifying adverb.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: AOP Records
Websites: groza-blackmetal.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/grozaband
Releases Worldwide: September 20th, 2024
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