Natur comes from New York and is ready with their long-awaited debut album after having a high status in the underground for a few years due to a demo and some split releases. The music is clearly inspired by the 80s, especially the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) era. I quickly think of bands like Angel Witch, Witchfynde, and Grim Reaper when I hear this, and I like the way the band lets the lead guitar guide the melodies in many of their songs. Especially in “The Messenger” and “Spider Baby,” this works well, and they stand out as favorites on the album. The latter was actually released as a single in 2010, and there’s a reason it’s included on the album as well. There are some shortcomings here, such as the production not being top-notch and it can sound a bit rough at times. However, the biggest issue is that the vocals lack a bit of power for this type of music and are somewhat lacking in distinctiveness. Nevertheless, this is a very charming record that’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of early English heavy metal.
Released by Earache.
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