The German duo Nimbifer already managed to carve a deep fissure into the landscape of contemporary Black Metal last year with their debut album Der Böse Geist, released through the ever-discerning Vendetta Records. What emerged was a work whose rawness did not stem from mere defiance or bravado, but from an inner storm carefully harnessed: cold riffs flowing through the compositions like half-frozen river currents, vocals that felt more like reverberations than an actual voice, and an atmosphere draped over the whole like a thick shroud of fog. The album was rightly welcomed with open arms; Nimbifer proved that uncompromising ferocity and nuance can, quite surprisingly, coexist in harmony.
Now Sturmfriedt and Windkelch return with an EP once again released by Vendetta, this time on 12” and cassette — a choice of format that fits seamlessly with the archaic soundscape Nimbifer strives for. Where Der Böse Geist suggested a dark journey through haunted forests and abandoned battlefields, this new release feels more like a ritual performed at the forest’s edge: more intimate, closer to the skin, yet not a shade less ominous.
The new compositions breathe a tension kept taut beneath the surface; the guitars circle like birds of prey over a landscape that inevitably leans toward darkness, while the drums lay down a primitive, almost ritualistic pulse. Once again, Nimbifer demonstrates that their strength lies in the interplay between fury and stillness — passages that seem to harden into solid stone are effortlessly alternated with moments where melancholy becomes almost tangible.
This EP therefore feels like a natural continuation of their debut, yet also a refinement: less eruption, more control; less mist, more contour. It’s a work that does not seek to surpass its predecessor in size, but rather in depth, darkness, and intent. A small yet convincing step that anchors the name Nimbifer even more firmly into the soil.
85/100
Nimbifer:
Bandcamp
Vendetta Records:
Bandcamp
Instagram
Facebook
Website