The blackened Texan warriors Nercofier are ready to “Transcend into Oblivion” with their third & most comprehensive album to date.
Formed in 2018 by lead singer & guitarist Christian Larson (Bakka), looking to join the ranks of other USBM bands to create some of the most prolific black metal seen in the USA. The band’s first full-length album, “Prophecies of Eternal Darkness,” released in 2021, was my favourite BM album of that year—a strong & furious display of energy & focus. The follow-up to 2023’s “Burning Shadows in the Southern Night” saw the band become a tiger unit, push the songwriting & somehow create an even more punishing & provocative album than before.
“Transcend into Oblivion” is broken into three chapters, with instrumental breaks between. The first chapter, “Fires of the Apocalypse, Light My Path”, Parts I-II-III, opens the album perfectly. Giving us the new sound the band has created. It feels like the band has found where they are within their own legacy. The sound on this album is beautifully crafted. Feeling like a mix between the rawness of Watain & the melodic elements of Dissection. The mix on the album feels clear, but it has a great rawness. Giving a ton of power to drummer Dobber Beverly’s recording. They hit hard while still being precise & punchy.
The guitars on this album are perfectly crafted, and Semir Özerkan, the second guitarist, as well as Bakka’s tone, is harsh but somewhat beautiful. On the third part of the chapter, there is a “breakdown” style section of a repeating heavy riff, & it hits like a ton of bricks, just for the band to increase their speed & bring back the harsh, tremolo riffing that cuts deep.
This first chapter is tight & rigorous.
The first instrumental track, “Behold, the Birth of Ascension,” is haunting. A lone piano’s glorious yet haunting melody fills the air, while a shrieking vocal in agony cries from the void. The band slowly increases the intensity as the track builds & leaves you shaken & afraid.
The next chapter, “Servants of Darkness, Guide My Way, & its first chapter begin with a very dark, blackened death-metal feel. Like the 00s Behemoth sound, it’s punishing. Heavy riffage & pulsing drums give the track a tank-like feel, but still, persistent guitar melodies entwine with the heavy riffs to create a blanket of brutality & unease. Bakka’s vocals on this track are the most hateful & pissed on the album yet. His feral-like bark goes right for the throat, all the while layered background vocals, mixed perfectly, just enough in the distance, give the feeling of unease & sadness.
Part III’s closing moments have a gorgeous acoustic section that I wasn’t expecting, but once it started, it felt so at home with the overall track. Its mesmerising melody is the perfect end to Part III’s furious opening section. With its epic feel, this titan of the track might be the goliath standout on the album. Its blasting section feels like a machine gun to the chest, but within is a misanthropic feel. Guitars are soaked in reverb, which creates this wall of unease & uncomfortability.
The album’s closer, ” Horns of Destruction, Lift My Blade,” starts with a very old-school feel, Part I. In the vein of Immortal & Darkthrone, this track is stripped back & full of power. If you love your black metal tradition, this first track is for you. The guitar tone on this one is powerful & has a bite. Thanks to Joel Hamilton at Studio G, Brooklyn, the album’s mix is powerful and raw, with a clear tone!
The album’s final moments, “Toward the Necrofier,” feel like the closing credits of a timeless film. It’s tribal, thick drums with the voice-over, like vocals, really grab you. Its ambience grows as the deep synth in the background fills your ears with haunting John Carpenter-style tones. Clinking, broken guitar sounds pulsate & are soaked in distortion as they help build the atmosphere. In its agonising final bow, this closing track gives it its last cries & gasps of air. Truly, everything has been left within this album, every moment of pain, horror & anguish has been captured.
Necrofier, as an entity, has been building its sound over each album. ” Transcend into Oblivion” feels like the most Necrofier album. They have carved their sound out. Where their early album wears its influences on its sleeve, Now Necrofier feels like their own entity. The building of their sound & the creation of a melting pot of the most brutal black metal in recent years within the USA, along with the gorgeous melodic moments woven into it, feel perfectly fitting. Being able to blend multiple elements across genres into your sound is no small feat, & they do it flawlessly.
9/10
Joseph Mitchell
Transcend into Oblivion via Metal Blade Records on 27th February 2026.
