Groza – Nadir Review

Groza is a Romanian surname that comes from the Slavic word groza, which means “terror” or “fear”. In the past, the name was given to a sick child in an attempt to scare away the illness or death. Now Nadir has two interesting meanings: the worst moment, or the moment of least hope and least achievement, or, from late Middle English: via French from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt) ‘opposite (to the zenith)’. the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer. And to think I’ve always thought Nadir as a name. I even had an aunt with this name.

Musicwise, “Nadir” has so much to do with the definitions I brought up here most notably the one as opposite to zenith. Not forgeting the meaning of Groza I guess terror from the skies would fit perfectly with the musical intent within this album. I’ll tell that Atmospheric Black metal has everything to do with this perfect fitting because it arises an atmosphere of constant fear. It’s interesting how the band combines fast as hell moments with atmospheric ones in all the album most notably in “Dysthymian Dreams” where both can happen at the same time. The anger the guitar passes the fan is really something to detach while the strummings make the fan feel like the calm before the storm, or after as it happens here. From where I’m standing from all the moments created in the song the most appealing is at the end when the band introduces all the terror created by the moods they share. “Equal. Silent. Cold.” follows the same formula with all the anger possible coming from the guitars with an incredible fast drumming. The gentle, but mystique guitar strummings give the song the aura of terror brought by its name.

“Nadir” is an album where most emotions come together in only one song. Groza realized perfectly moods and atmospheres can create extreme horror and fear regardless the speed the song goes under. Here the band experiments both in order to create the perfect place for fear and terror. By the way, the cover art is something very intriguing. It’s impossible to say what it is.

Groza “Nadir” was released on September 20th via AOP Records.

Track Listing:

  1. Soul: Inert
  2. Asbest
  3. Dysthymian Dreams
  4. Equal. Silent. Cold.
  5. Deluge
  6. Daffodils