Swedens Black Metal horde NAZGHOR return with their brilliant new opus “Death’s Withered Chants", which will be unleashed digitally in March and in CD format some time in April. Active since only three years now, the band releases their fifth output already and still seems to be able to increase their songwriting abilities. Presenting themselves on their creative peak, the ten tracks belong to the best melodic Black Metal songs I have been listening to during the last couple of months. After a fulminant intro in form of ‘Hymnum Mortis’ with choral chants the band starts their Black Metal thunderstorm with the brilliant opener ‘Requiem Black Mass’ and once demonstrates, that they definitely belong to the Black Metal elite of Europe. Precise and freezing riffing of the hellish duo Armageddor and Angst, perfect fitting drumming (I assume once again from their drum machine Rimfrost) and the distinctive vocals of mastermind Nekhrid, who really has an outstanding and unique voice and an own way of singing with an unique flow, so only after some seconds it is crystal clear that NAZGHOR strikes back again. They only made slight changes in their sound compared to the last two albums but their abilities to write real hymns with more brilliant melodies have grown once again. ‘Under A Venomous Spell’ is a really killer track with an outstanding melody line and one of the best hymns the band has written so far. ‘Craft Of the Nihilist’ emerged in collaboration with Anders Strokirk of NECROPHOBIC and is another outstanding track before ‘Road To Dead Meadows’ once again offers a really timeless hymn. Of course the remaining tracks are on a similar high level as no filler can be found on this new album. Hopefully the planned mini tour through Germany and Poland will help to introduce NAZGHOR to a wider audience as with their quality they can easily compete with better known bands like bands like NECROPHOBIC or DARK FUNERAL. For more info on NAZGHOR check them out at following locations: www.facebook.com/pages/nazghor/144957632333284, www.satanath.com