Nargaroth has changed a lot in the years since their formation in the 1990s, and are now at the speartip of the more popular black metal acts in existence, and they deserve to be, as this album shows. This album is incredibly well-recorded but still has a proper black metal feel to it, especially where the drumming is concerned, with tight, fast blasts and quick-as-lightning fills and rolls. The riffing is powerful and fully black metal in its attack, a bulldozing display of notes and chords. I do wish there was a hint of rawness left in this band, but they've been elevated to a level where that may not be ideal for them anymore. With playing like this a clean recording is probably best anyway, so every little thing can be heard. I'm just pining for the old days again, don't mind me. They do play with other genres a little bit on this release, too, like the folky clean vocals in "Dresden," and the death metal riffing in "Shatter the Faithless." Everything else is proper black metal, however. So, gone are the days of Black Metal Ist Krieg, but now we have Apocalyptic Steel, and I welcome the change.
