Nihility - Decapitated

Nihility is Decapitated's second album out of four, released in 2002. Their albums seem to come out every couple of years and whilst their latest one was a disappointment (Organic Hallucinosis), it is only because its predecessors are so impressive.

The original group is no more unfortunately, but they stem from Poland and are younger than me, much to my jealousy when i found out! They were fourteen when their first album was released. ...
...metal connoisseurs, the riffs on Nihility blow everything else out of the water. Listen to Spheres of Madness (track 6) to see what i mean. The cold nihilistic lyrics, for example:

"You think that destruction is the way
Let your own pain be the answer
For nothingness, for non-existence in emptiness
Being for not being, religion of black hole..."

(Track 4: Nihility: Anti Human Manifesto)
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Nihility is Decapitated's second album out of four, released in 2002. Their albums seem to come out every couple of years and whilst their latest one was a disappointment (Organic Hallucinosis), it is only because its predecessors are so impressive.

The original group is no more unfortunately, but they stem from Poland and are younger than me, much to my jealousy when i found out! They were fourteen when their first album was released. Their brutal style is something one wouldn't expect from a group so young, and their skill exceeds many other experienced death metal bands in the genre, although this is down to opinion perhaps.

To death metal connoisseurs, the riffs on Nihility blow everything else out of the water. Listen to Spheres of Madness (track 6) to see what i mean. The cold nihilistic lyrics, for example:

"You think that destruction is the way
Let your own pain be the answer
For nothingness, for non-existence in emptiness
Being for not being, religion of black hole..."

(Track 4: Nihility: Anti Human Manifesto)

are balanced well against the technicality of the playing, making the music seem quite cold. If you're a fan of melodic death metal which shows more emotion, i don't think Decapitated would keep your attention for very long. However, the album itself is quite short which will keep your depression to a minimum! I actually find it uplifting because of the punching bassline and the guttural growling. It's music to nod your head to, and then quickly change speed with a look of confusion on your face! Each track is unpredictable.

When Decapitated first came out they were seen as original and to some extent, a novelty because of their youth. To their fans, Nihility has only made them stronger. You only have to look at the success of their subsequent albums and sellout gigs. However, to their critics, they are viewed as monotonous because of their use of the same riffs in many of their songs.

In Eternity Too Short, the second track of ten, the drumming breaks away from the rhythm guitar and makes use of the open cymbals to diversify the song. In Babylon's Pride (perhaps my favourite track on the album) the speed of the riffs and the pounding drums makes for actually a catchy tune. But pop fans beware, this isn't for you! The energy throughout the album makes you on the one hand glad that it doesn't go on and on and on, but on the other leaves you wanting more.

Some people like a track listing in music reviews and some people don't. Well here it is anyway:

1. Perfect Dehuminasation (The Answer?)
2. Eternity Too Short
3. Mother War
4. Nihility (Anti-Human Manifesto)
5. Names
6. Spheres Of Madness
7. Babylon's Pride
8. Symmetry Of Zero

I would only recommend this album to people already interested in the metal genre. It's a big step up in tempo and brutality from heavy metal and will either sink its teeth into you and maul you or allow you to see a different side of music that you won't find advertised anywhere in highstreet music shops.

Decapitated albums usually sell for £10 or under online which is not very much at all for a good album. Remember quality not quantity though. The actual artwork on the Nihility cover is not to my personal taste, it's grainy and unsophisticated. But you will see it plastered over everyones t-shirts if you are lucky enough to see the band live, as Nihility is a popular album.

Whilst the tracks are consistent in quality, as i have already mentioned, they could be viewed as being consistent to the point of "ok, so what's new?", but in my humble opinion, Decapitated have an original sound with more sophisticated lyrics than their competition.

I would have one word of advice about this album, or any other death/ black metal piece: you won't be able to get the full feel of the music on a poor speaker system such a car stereo, because the technology that these albums have been produced with is superior to that of dance music, which is sort of what the setting on car stereos is set to. That's not a rant at dance music or stereo systems by the way, but something a producer told me, which has made me appreciate the effort that goes into producing such an involved album as this one.

Your mother might not like the band name though! 

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