The term "blackened death metal" has been used to describe many black metal bands that have been influenced by black metal, but there are also black metal bands that have been influenced by death metal -- and
Netherbird is such a band.
The Ghost Collector is symphonic black metal with elements of melodic death metal and occasional hints of gothic metal. Most of the extreme vocals on this 2005-2007 recording are black metal-style rasp vocals, although there are plenty of "Cookie Monster" vocals (a prime ingredient of death metal) as well.
The Ghost Collector is symphonic black metal first and foremost, but melodic death metal is certainly an influence -- and this Swedish outfit reminds us of the things that symphonic black metal and melodic death metal have in common. Both thrive on aggression and intensity, but also value melody, songcraft, musicality, and nuance; so even though
The Ghost Collector isn't exactly an
Enya or
Sarah McLachlan album, it isn't the type of unforgiving black metal slaughterfest that pummels and clobbers the listener simply for the sake of pummeling and clobbering the listener. And in addition to its black metal orientation and death metal influence,
The Ghost Collector occasionally hints at gothic metal with some clean female vocals (which probably should have been more prominent -- the gothic metal factor is something
Netherbird would do well to expand). This 62-minute CD has good intentions, but unfortunately, most of the tunes simply aren't very memorable.
The Ghost Collector is one of those releases that should have been excellent but is merely competent instead. Nonetheless,
Netherbird have potential. They're worth keeping an eye on -- and with the right material, they might achieve the sort of excellence they should have achieved on
The Ghost Collector. ~ Alex Henderson