Review by Alex on May 15, 2020.

I was not expecting much from newly formed Nôidva at first glance, but reading just enough about them and better yet, coming to find that they hail from the quality black metal capital, Finland, gave me a change of heart judging by the region's track record for consistency in the sub-genre. I've heard their debut Windseller enough to tell you that the music on the record hits like a powerful gust of frostbitten breeze. The 6 songs you'll get on the album are without doubt some of the best black metal you'll hear from a newly formed unit plying the format and you get that traditional Finnish sound affiliated with so many great bands from the nation.

The first encounter had with Windseller, one could say that something appeared to be shorting. I couldn't quite pin-point or identify what it was at the beginning, but with enough repeated listens it would be revealed. It's not a deal-breaker of any sort but the vocals could be a bit better, those mid-ranged snarls/screams are not the most convincing but at the same time I get the feeling they were intentionally done that way as to be an integral addition to the music rather than dominate the music. Either-way they don't hurt the songs given the instrumentation is significantly strong, thus posing as a compelling enough feature of Windseller.

In addressing the music itself, you could say that the entire thing plays like one hypnotizing serenade to a cold winter night. Opening with a mid-paced heavy metal attitude, title track 'Windseller' sets off with much conviction and a serious emphasis on memorable song structures. Melodious riffing, soothing keyboard synth and agile drumming form the building-blocks of Windseller that would be expanded upon as time progressed on the record. 'Followers of the North Star' shared the same sentiments as the opening track; however, scaled back on a minor degree in the usage of keyboards and acoustic guitars, in turn focusing more on a more pagan-esque though somewhat Immortal ("At the Heart of Winter") influenced form of second wave black metal especially with the usage of those high mid-ranged power chords.

Though having a very strong side A, Windseller would go on to offer its moment of glory on the B side via 'Into Polar Nights' and 'Eclipsed by Goathi's Blood', both of which deliver the best compositions on the album through their indicative Goatmoon acknowledgements. The music on these songs arrive at a true potential or perhaps what Nôidva had been aiming for from the onset; a collective multi tonality.

Hopefully Windseller could be followed up and surpassed in the future by Nôidva, provided the will and means to do so remains intact. Having been acquired by Purity Through Fire, I trust all will be well. Windseller is a riff and keyboard bonanza, a chilling though mellifluent session of black metal.

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Review by Felix on August 14, 2022.

I like black metal albums whose first notes immediately create a creepy atmosphere. They give me the good feeling that I am not wasting my time. Egrégore, the second full-length of its creators, belongs to these works. A sinister guitar chord promises despair and depression, but don’t think of whiny suicidal crap. 'In Umbra et Luce' does not neglect a dense brutality and the gapless production radiates a disturbing horror. It may be that the semi-legendary Nehёma are an influence for Bâ'a, for example at the beginning of the cold and vehement 'Domitor'. In any case, the icy high-speed episodes remind me of the old masters from Chambéry.

Nevertheless, just like any other French black metal band, Bâ'a do not present slavish imitations. Rather true is that they have an enormous portion of individuality. The general approach focuses on cruelty, inter alia because of the insane tempo, the intense guitars and the mostly distorted voice. Yet there are also moments of tranquillity where the fragile-sounding French language provides a contrast. Either way, the outbursts of raging misanthropy characterize the six songs of this album and even the less tumultuous sections are free from any signs of hope. The very well staged beginning of the slowly crawling 'Fames' provides evidence and opens the gates to a dimension of total hopelessness.

Bâ'a don’t do many mistakes and they do not run out of ideas. All songs are cleverly arranged, neither half-baked nor boring. Okay, at the end of 'Bellum', an echoing sound effect goes wrong and gives the song a somehow unnatural colour. But generally speaking, each and every second of the 42 minutes offers the option to drown in pure blackness. This is black metal that comes from the underground or even below, not in terms of the professional production, but with regard to the dedication of the artists. They must be extremely good actors, if this performance is not based on conviction and honest enthusiasm for the music they play. To create such a monolithic record is nothing for weekend maniacs, because it has style, depth and sustainability. You can be sure that you will not forget this musical content as soon as the album has come to its end. Moreover, Bâ’a have kept an eye on the entire package. Both the simple, colourless artwork and dignified design of the booklet express their stylish approach visually. The artwork, for instance, shows death in a very cautious way – nevertheless, it cannot be misunderstood. Thus, I admit that this work takes me to the core, the essence and the blazing fire of the sub-genre. Hopefully, you make a similar experience with this output.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10