But I digress. Nordlys from Memmingen in Bavaria (which seems to be a real metal stronghold, especially in relation to the modest size of the city; just think of Nekrovault, Sacroscum, Khaos, and Niht, even though these bands are all based more or less on a core group of musicians), started out under the name Fjell, were called Pest and Die Schwarze Wut in the meantime, and never made it into the spotlight of the black metal underground like Lunar Aurora, Nagelfar, Secrets of the Moon, or Desaster.
In 2017, a re-release of the legendary 1997 concert by Lunar Aurora, Nordlys, Nagelfar, and Mightiest took place, this time at the Crash venue in Freiburg in the Black Forest. Instead of Nordlys and Mightiest (incidentally, another band that took 20 years to release their debut album and was criminally underrated), a band called Weltengänger (Lunar Aurora members under the name of their debut album) played instead of the defunct Lunar Aurora, and Kermania played in place of the also long-defunct Nagelfar. Interestingly, both Nagelfar and Aran, one of the protagonists of Lunar Aurora, are now giving concerts again...
Nordlys were the strongest band that evening, at least for me. You can read more about the band's history and that evening in the interview with the band here. Now, as I write this review and think back on that evening, I am filled with a sense of melancholy, as my friend Marco, with whom I spent that memorable evening, sadly passed away in 2024.
In the period that followed, Nordlys announced new songs, but unfortunately nothing happened for a long time, and to be honest, I thought the whole thing had been settled. But then came the announcement of their debut album, released on the legendary German label Solistitium, which also brought us works by bands such as Behemoth, Isvind, and Helheim. This is fitting because the label was also virtually gone for a good 20 years and made a fresh start in 2025.
But now let's get to the album. “Lichtglanz Finsternis,” which features an atmospheric cover depicting the northern lights, offers eight songs that clock in at just under three-quarters of an hour.
Basically, Nordlys haven't changed much from their previous releases—the sound is better, of course, and some things are more mature. But that's exactly what makes this work a masterpiece in my opinion. Admittedly, I needed two or three listens, and those who only listen to the music while doing other things may not appreciate the special atmosphere of this work. It's not that the songs are particularly complex, nevertheless the special mood only becomes apparent when you take a closer listen. But that's what makes it so special and lasting, unlike many Swedish blackened death bands that immediately grab your attention but then quickly lose their appeal.
This album offers the perfect synthesis of black metal aggression and fury and subtle or openly expressed melancholy—in other words, everything that young people loved about black metal in the 90s. “Wolf,” the second track, is one such piece, performed with subtle melancholy, which contrasts frenzy with quiet acoustic parts. “Monument der Tränen” features fast parts as well as slow, plaintive parts, and “Totenweihe” reminds me in part of a goth rock band, both in terms of mood and the occasional rock parts. The final track, “Northern Lights,” whose beginning may be a reference to a well-known Norwegian band—at least, I think so—leaves the listener into nothingness with fading acoustic guitars.
For me, this is the most stirring piece of black metal of recent years—for those who see black metal not merely as a stylistic device that has degenerated into an end in itself, but as a radical expression that hurts and stirs the soul, this is a must-have. An incredible work. Thanks for that.
