Netherbird - Arete - CD

On "Arete", NETHERBIRD melodic black/death metal that has become their hallmark. It is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian underground legacy, yet delivered with a strong sense of feel and urgency, allowing these tracks to exude the confidence and songwriting prowess of a band at the peak of their craft. The album itself is the third installment ofthe trilogy that started on “The Grander Voyage” and continued on “Into the Vast Uncharted”. The journey has come to its completion with this album, where the very concept of Arete – the classic ideal of excellence – is scrutinized from various angles in these songs. NETHERBIRD are by no means strangers to the Swedish extreme metal scene, having already released five acclaimed full length, a slew of EPs and singles since their inception in 2004. Ever since then, the band has managed to blur the lines between black and death metal, managing to develop a distinct sound that culminates in their newest release, "Arete". Throughout their career, NETHERBIRD has featured members from several renowned extreme metal projects such as Amon Amarth, Dark Funeral and At The Gates. On "Arete", the music on display serves as evidence that the band has assembled its strongest line-up to date.What sets NETHERBIRD and particularly the album "Arete" apart from their peers is their uncanny ability to fuse moments of sonic serenity and beauty with outbursts of pure fury, managing to flow seamlessly from ethereal acoustic guitar passages into melodic tremolo riffs accompanied by flawlessly executed blast beats, courtesy of the brilliant Fredrik Andersson, known for his prior work in Amon Amarth. These bold musical arrangements are presented in a warm, clear production, allowing all sections to breathe and engulf the listener in the sounds of "Arete". The dynamic range on display here is truly impressive.