Negativa "Untitled I" - Track by Track


Not to be confused with the German experimental deathsters of the same name, Negativa hail from Spain and share one member from Atrabilis with whom the majority of their back catalogue they share over three or four splits.  Track by track:

"I" - Big drone-esque start, icy and cold before fusing effortlessly into big thick drum and atmospheric shroud of menace.  Ritualistic and shrieking vocals float over the music perfectly. The atmosphere is almost wraith like; surrounding and cloaking you.  The track seems to stop around just over halfway through and some atmospheric noise takes over to haunt you before the riffs come back with marauding, melodic intent.

"II" - Solid riff and structure to start, a lot less murky in feel initially than the previous track.  Relentless, almost sludge mentality to the delivery of this track. Vocalist D.R (the Atrabilis member) is on sterling form here. About two-thirds of the way through a melancholic piano takes over with some (Spanish?) spoken word before a tremolo riff takes over and it is back to business as usual.

"III" - Hazy, crackling, radio interference like start before tearing off into blistering BM territory like a horse with a firecracker up it's ass!  There's hints again here with the drumming of a lot more than just blastbeats going on, solid and earthy in sound to start and yet never overwhelming.  Riffs rule track three though, bruising and scathing and turned up loud enough to jar you out of your bed.

"IV" - Continues straight where track three leaves off before dropping down a gear for some slower and more loathsome evil to take effect.  Real, off cuff change of sound about two thirds of the way through, like the band have soundly dropped underwater.  Other than this this is the weakest of the tracks so far.

"V" - Murky, picked intro to get things going this time.  You can almost sense that tremolo chomping at the bit to get going.  More variety to the pace of this track and it's done with authority and seemingly effortless aplomb. Track builds nicely to an expansive and sprawling magnitude.

"VI" - Feedback to start before tremolo fades in over the top.  A lot more "instant" in appeal after the expansive previous track, acts as a perfect build into the final track too.

"VII" - Spoken word over tremolo before a familiar but forgettable romp that although attempts variety is perhaps a track too far.  Distinct feel of plod during the majority of this track and although no less proficient than the others tracks on offer the level does drop considering it is the final track.

3/5

The Link 
Negativa Bandcamp

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