Huge thanks to the drummer from Niveous for reaching out and sending over their debut release, 'Endless Snowfall,' for review. Apologies for the slight delay, but I'm glad I finally got to dive into this icy offering.  A quick side note regarding the vocal duties on 'Endless Snowfall': my research indicates that both Vokar and Nortaath contribute vocals throughout the album, though the specific breakdown per track isn't publicly available. Right, let's get into it! 

There are 4 tracks on the album.

1. Into the Abyssal Maw

2. Glacial Kingdom: Frozen Utopia

3. Reign of the Obsidian Eclipse

4. ...of Endless Snowfall

Track 1, "Into the Abyssal Maw," kicks off with some seriously punchy blast beats alongside simple yet effective power chord progressions. I appreciate how quickly the song takes shape after the initial onslaught. The main riff here is tight as hell and definitely induces headbanging, complemented by some cool, frostbitten tremolo-picked guitar lines as the track progresses. The section around the halfway mark is excellent. The drums truly shine here, initiating the mid-section with crisp thrash/crash hits (with driving kick drum underneath). That galloping drum beat injects a fantastic driving force and a surprising groove into the track. A strong opener for sure!

Check the video here

Track 2, "Glacial Kingdom: Frozen Utopia," launches with a heavy dose of double bass drumming paired with some great, cymbal-heavy ride patterns. The vocals are immediately striking – firm, haunting, and utterly cold, perfectly embodying the intended atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the melodic guitar lines weaving through this section. The part that begins around 1:20 is seriously impressive. The dissonant single-string notes interspersed with the chords and the steady 4/4 drums add a compelling layer of depth. Honestly, this might be my favorite track on the album. Being the longest track, I think it allows each band member's strengths to truly shine. It takes you through so many compelling shifts. Take 2:40, for example. Just when you think you've locked into the song's tempo, a well-executed drum fill throws you into a perfectly timed signature change, leading you down a completely different path while maintaining the intensity and overall vibe of the preceding riff. This track is absolutely spot on, and I think its length allows the band to truly evolve the song's ideas. It highlights the limitations of conveying true depth within shorter durations.

Track 3, "Reign of the Obsidian Eclipse," definitely feels like the most dissonant track on the album, and its placement as the third track works perfectly. The main riff sounds crushingly heavy, evoking a real sense of carnage. I particularly liked the breakdown-esque section just before the halfway point. It sounds incredibly downtuned and has a real meaty, almost old-school death-doom feel to it. This track is undoubtedly the album's "headbanging anthem," and the addition of those extra guitar layers over the weighty riffs adds an extra layer of devilishness. The vocals here are also fantastic. In hindsight, I appreciate the relative sparseness of the vocals; it lends a "less is more" aura, and I feel this track didn't need a constant vocal barrage. Both Vocalists did a killer job with their impactful deliveries on the album. A quick side note regarding the vocal duties on 'Endless Snowfall': my research indicates that both Vokar and Nortaath contribute vocals throughout the album, though the specific breakdown per track isn't publicly available."

Track 4, “of Endless Snowfall," serves as the perfect closing track. I found this to be the grooviest track on the album, seamlessly transitioning from an almost upbeat groove to downtempo, doom-laden guitar riffs accompanied by slow, deliberate drum hits that gradually pick up tempo before and after well-placed drum fills. The vocalist's high-pitched shrieks are absolutely awesome and add a chilling dimension. All in all, this track was really strong and provided a satisfying sense of closure to the album's journey. The way it incorporates different tempos and moods really showcases the band's dynamic range.

Endless Snowfall" by Niveous has undoubtedly left a strong mark on the black metal landscape with this debut. From the very first note to the last echoing sound, you are immersed in an ice-cold journey showcasing impressive musicianship. The seamless transitions in tempo and time signatures, the spot-on vocals, the guitars layered with chilling dissonance, and the outstanding drumming all contribute to an album that earns a solid 8.5 out of 10. This is an album I'll be revisiting time and time again. I'm eagerly anticipating what comes next from Niveous and will be here to fully support their future endeavors. I look forward to receiving a CD once they're pressed, as kindly offered by Nortaath. Thanks for reading my review, and thank you again to Niveous for the amazing music. I truly appreciate the unseen time and effort that makes albums like this so special upon release. You guys fucking rule.


9-10: Exceptional

7-8: Good, Great

5-6: Average, Decent

3-4: Fair, Mediocre

1-2: Poor, Subpar

Grading system.

Click for Bandcamp