A mighty tribute to the ever evolving Nationalistic black metal scene emerging predominantly from Poland and France. The Night and the Fog is a monumental compilation of some of the best, and most underground bands in the scene today. Every single ones of these guys has their ideals in the right place, and treat their black metal as an art from of self expression to convey them. Furthermore, the material is simply brilliant; utterly creative and innovative, as well as very inspiring and emotional. Far from being the lifeless black metal which has infiltrated so much of the scene as of late!

Cus all the tracks deserve their own individual recognition, I will analyze them each seperately.

1. Kristallnacht- A strife... A victory.
Taken from the Warspirit demo. This is a different version than I have, and it also features the bizzare vocals from Xaphan to make it even better. Kristallnacht is one of the last of a dying breed as far as keeping the music primitive and ultimately black.

2. Bekhire- The Grand Evil Spirit.
These guys come from France, and play a great underground style of well exectued black metal. Very melodic and very inspiring. This was the best track of their demo, and one of the better tracks on the cd. As a sidenote, this is one of the few bands appearing on the compilation which continues to use a drum set, and has not stooped to the aid of mechanical devices in their expressions.

3. Thor's Hammer- Surtr Fer Sunnam
An interesting track from Capricornus side project. Very distant and evocative, unlike the inncessant beating of his other works. All the music is very good, yet it relies on the drum machine. The keyboards on this track work especially well in highlighting particular passages and structures. Very unique contribution.

4. Wineta- Wspomnienie
Absolutely great track from this band. Very sloppy and bad execution, but what is lacking in musicanship is made up ten fold in emotional conditioning. The keyboards appear here in the form of distant female choirs and voices groaning bleakly above the plodding drums and raspy guitars. One of the more talented and original bands on the cd, and also an especially unique form of vocals. Well done.

5. Veles- The Winter Morning
This is a terrible track from a band that I have simply never been able to stand. Blasphemous is a very incompetant vocalist, and resorts to feeble groans and mumbles as an escape from true expression. This is nothing like their Black Hateful Metal album in both the context of attitude and material display. The latter half of the track is simply a repeat of the first... it seems as though they did not have the time to play out the track in full, as most bands would and should do.

6. Thuderbolt- Key to Eternity
Wonderful track taken from the Thunderbolt demo, encapsulating their dirty and dry sound, along with excellent material as always. Truly one of the better bands in Poland at the time, and in the entire NS in general.

7. Fullmoon- The Wolfish Initiation
This track is taken from the United... demo, and is easily one of the more complex and thought out contributions appearing on the disk. There is an especially evocative choir break that appears twice throughout the song, and it has, for some reason, stuck in my mind. A highlight of the comp.

8. Weltmacht- the call to battle
Very barbaric and cold song from Weltmacht. No depression or sadness, just utter chaos and anthems for the victory of warfare. Different version from the call to battle demo.

9. War88- 14 Revelation of the Antichrist
A good song clocking in at a little over a minute. Unfortunately, there were several more competant songs appearing on their demo, and I am unsure as to why this particular song was chosen. Still kills though.

10. Absurd- Asgardrie
Great song based on simplistic and monotone evolutions in both guitar and drums. Feeble attempts at sung vocals work great in my opinion. I think this is a drum machine, but cant tell for sure. One of the better points of the cd.

11. Graveland- Into the Northern Carpathians
Again, I am not sure why a keyboard track of Graveland would be chosen for the comp, especially this one which is no longer than a minute or so. Very dissapointing.

12. Gontyna Kry- Kruk Smierci
Great track which tends more to the melodic and harmonious side of the genre. The vocals are outstanding, as is just about every other aspect of the song. Another drum machine is used here, although it works exceptionally well in this conext.

13. Galgenberg- Segetii Weisheit Imperium
Another killer track. I had never heard of these guys before. One of the better bands on the comp, and my personal favorite. Great mix between savage black metal, and more traditional trash- metal licks. Fits toghether very nicely. The sparce use of keyboards also compliments the music well.

14. Birkenau- Burning
Wonderful ambient guitar noise track accentuated slightly with distant female choir voices. Sounds very simaler to the style developed in bands like Abyssic Hate, Burzum, and old Mayhem. Very trancelike, and meditative. Anyone got a demo for sale or trade?

15. Perunwit-
Aryan folk band closes off this superb cd. This reminds me of being far in the distant path (or future if able) in a time rid of inhibitions and mental distraction. I love the use of the war- kettle drums, and especially the acoustic guitar which nests hidden in the backround. Very provocative.

One of the best compilations I have heard. A true tribute to the last of a dying scene.

© 2002 orodruin