RAGNAROK — Non Debellicata (review)

RAGNAROK — Non Debellicata album cover Album · 2019 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Kev Rowland
It was known during the recording of the previous album, 2016’s ‘Psychopathology’, that bassist DezeptiCunt was leaving and he was actually credited as a guest. By the time they came around to the next album in 2019, not only was new bassist Rammr fully blooded but Jontho had by now grown into his new role as frontman and singer. So, while Bolverk (guitars) and Malignant (drums) keep doing exactly what they have been doing before, there has been a step change in the other areas of the band. Firstly, Rammr has a far more melodic approach to both his playing and his tone than is usual in this form of music. That’s not to say that he will not play at breakneck speed when the time is right, but he also has very much his own style, and his playing can be quite languid at times, giving the music a quite different feel. Then there is Jontho, who has fully embraced his role of frontman, and is much more in control of what he is doing and aware of his performance.

For this album, all four members of the band contributed both musically and lyrically and they ended up with 20 songs, out of which they rehearsed 16, recorded 13, and then chose the best 10 for the album. Marduk's Devo was again at the helm, and he has captured the radical change the band has undergone. Playing this immediately after ‘Parapsychology’ and the difference in almost every aspect in quite noticeable. The new approach to bass gives a different sound, there is a lightness and confidence in the vocals, Malignant is fully confident that he is allowed to do his own thing on the drums and Bolverk is relaxed and playing better than ever. Ragnarok have been around for quarter of a century now, and they are starting to hit their stride. Norwegian black metal is rarely much better than this.
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