Covenant – Nexus Polaris – Review

Covenant

Nexus Polaris (Nuclear Blast)
by Paul Lee

If you’re under the misapprehension that Covenant is black metal, think again. It’s only natural to assume that a band with Hellhammer (from infamous black metallers Mayhem) as drummer, and bassist/vocalist Nagash from Dimmu Borgir, would be a purely black project. Not so. This five piece band (not project) from Norway more closely resemble Emerson, Lake and Palmer with black metal influences than they do Mayhem. Nexus Polaris is a worthy album with plenty of talented musicianship and lush background vocals from the angelic Sara of Cradle of Filth fame. Nexus Polaris is filled with eight epic tunes rife with sweeping melodies dominated by dual guitars and symphonic keyboards. Nagash’s vocals are suitably harsh, bordering on strangely manic, and Sara’s background vox add a lavender touch to the metallic tinge. From the opener, “The Sulphur Feast,” all the way to the finalé, “Chariots of Thunder,” you know you’re in for a wonderfully pretentious and weird trip.

If you’ve ever heard Arcturus’ brilliant prog-rock-meets-black-metal stylings, then you have a good idea as to what Nexus is like (though Arcturus is still the better of the two). When talented black metallers grow up past the inane Satanic crap, they may travel down the path that Covenant has taken, with Emperor and Arcturus leading the way. As for the lyrics on Nexus, they’re fantasy-oriented and high falutin’ enough to suit the complexity of the songs. I never could understand much of what Nagash was singing in Dimmu Borgir, so the lyrics in the CD booklet are handy. If you need a change from the usual, evil black stuff, or want to check out some fairly unique metal, these Norwegians (and one English lady) may suit you.
(2323 W. El Segundo Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250)