Al-Namrood – Diaji Al Joor (2015)

artwork
Al-Namrood is so kvlt that they can’t even turn down their projects’ master levels a few decibels. While simply nudging everything down a bit so it doesn’t clip as much might not be the best way to go about it, the fact that this completely insane brickwalling that’s apparently been dogging the fellows throughout their career goes yet unresolved on Diaji Al Joor does not exactly fill me with hope. As previously mentioned the last time a DMU writer took notice, Al-Namrood’s big gimmick is that they’re from Saudi Arabia and are theoretically risking more to get their content out. Remove their background and the absolute garbage mixing job, and you’re left with an okay but generally underwhelming folk metal album with some black metal influences.

On a scale of Orphaned Land to Melechesh, Al-Namrood leans closer to the latter for keeping a greater amount of metal technique in their formula. For whatever reason, they end up consistently midpaced in all instrumentation and otherwise lean towards a consistent sound. From a musicological perspective, their consistent use of Arabic maqams (a seven tone system of tuning and intonation) makes for a great selling point in the Western world and, amongst other things, leads to some dissonant/microtonal droning sections that I barely hear in metal; I furthermore believe that more ambitious and proficient musicians could do great things with such. On Diaji Al Joor, this potential is squandered and turned into tedious filler that adds little of value. This is best described as more of a vocal-driven album, anyways – the vocalist (who goes by the pseudonym of “Humbaba”) barks and rattles his way through these tracks and seems to have some idea of how to vary up his inflection and pitch to make himself more interesting and prominent. I’m cynical enough to call him a case of wasted potential given the lack of direction that manifests below him.

I’d probably go as far as to say this is, in spite of its clear flaws, ever so slightly better than Melechesh’s recent effort (Enki) was, since it’s a bit less openly streamlined and digs a hint deeper into its respective reservoir of musical ideas. That judgement may, however, be too subjective for your tastes. Even if it isn’t, the fact that Diaji Al Joor fails to rise beyond a basic level of competence makes it an irrelevant comparison.

Tags: , , , , , ,

6 thoughts on “Al-Namrood – Diaji Al Joor (2015)”

  1. vOddy says:

    I wanted to like this band so badly.

    1. jinko says:

      how come? jus liek what u like dude

      1. vOddy says:

        People like them make me hopeful for the future of humanity, and Arabic countries in particular. They prove that not every one is a muslim asshole.

        1. jinko says:

          da fukc?? how many times i gotta tell ya kid. site aproved politka just makes me wanna track yo pale ass down beat it. then i be sendin the vids out to select warlords and tolkien-reenactment enthusiasts.But anyways jsut think for yoself fool, it’s all Im saying. Hornzup!!

          1. vOddy says:

            What makes you assume that I am not thinking for myself?

            1. jinko says:

              lets just say I got reel good gut feelin about places like this.but anyway I could be wrong. so you can think for yoself ha? well fuck you. cos you everthing about you screESm sd rwod TROL. But even then you might be alright jus can’t say fo sure,

Comments are closed.

Classic reviews:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z