Review by Michael on February 20, 2026.

I still have a couple of very cool releases to discuss which remains from 2025. One of these releases is the debut "Heartless" by Nøkk which was released last November via the German label Solistitium Records. The band is a duo hailing from the United States (although the name might suggest some Scandinavian origin). They have released their debut EP "Repel The Incursion" in 2023 and the kind of black metal the guys are performing is more Scandinavian than anything blackish that came from the US lately. The promo text says about the band that they create dark hymns illuminating the voyage across bleak plains of self-destruction and the inherent need to forge ahead. A grim, existential tale brought to life through caustic black metal.

Well, these are high aims and we all know that sometimes the promotional information doesn't tell us the truth. So what's up with Nøkk?

Obvious influences are the Finnish and the Norwegian scene, especially the faster bands (like Horna, Behexen or early Gorgoroth). Beneath the frosty frenzy there are some catchy and melodic parts to find though so that the result of "Heartless" is a very good and entertaining album that makes it quite easy to get access to. Emm, okay, not the typical AOR listener but the usual black metal fan of course.

Here and there, just like in the title track you can find some gently breathed keyboards and if you listen more closely to the instruments, you can find a lot of great breaks and twists in the songs. The production is very powerful and the drums are especially thunderous and impressive. Vocals are also really grim, just like a barking dog with a sore throat, unfortunately I cannot understand a single word though. But I guess they don't sing about unicorns and fairies when you have a look at song titles such as "The Blind Leading The Lost", "Dead" or "The Hanging Tree".

And although the main focus lies on some sort of aggressive and hateful atmosphere, sometimes some lovely tunes pop out (may it be some bird and flowing water samples or a string instrument) like in "Nøkk The Soulless" that is quite surprising and cheers it all up a little bit. So where darkness there is is also light.

The six songs are quite long for typical black metal songs, they have about 6 - 8 minutes playing time each, only "All The Pretty Things" falls off the edge here with only 5 minutes. But that really doesn't mean that the tracks get boring in any way. No, they are interesting until the end because of the twists that they offer and this is something that is not the case for many black metal releases. The only thing that is missing on "Heartless" is the one real outstanding track that keeps in mind. But as a debut album the band has created a really good one and we can hope that there will be good things to follow.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Michael on February 20, 2026.

I still have a couple of very cool releases to discuss which remains from 2025. One of these releases is the debut "Heartless" by Nøkk which was released last November via the German label Solistitium Records. The band is a duo hailing from the United States (although the name might suggest some Scandinavian origin). They have released their debut EP "Repel The Incursion" in 2023 and the kind of black metal the guys are performing is more Scandinavian than anything blackish that came from the US lately. The promo text says about the band that they create dark hymns illuminating the voyage across bleak plains of self-destruction and the inherent need to forge ahead. A grim, existential tale brought to life through caustic black metal.

Well, these are high aims and we all know that sometimes the promotional information doesn't tell us the truth. So what's up with Nøkk?

Obvious influences are the Finnish and the Norwegian scene, especially the faster bands (like Horna, Behexen or early Gorgoroth). Beneath the frosty frenzy there are some catchy and melodic parts to find though so that the result of "Heartless" is a very good and entertaining album that makes it quite easy to get access to. Emm, okay, not the typical AOR listener but the usual black metal fan of course.

Here and there, just like in the title track you can find some gently breathed keyboards and if you listen more closely to the instruments, you can find a lot of great breaks and twists in the songs. The production is very powerful and the drums are especially thunderous and impressive. Vocals are also really grim, just like a barking dog with a sore throat, unfortunately I cannot understand a single word though. But I guess they don't sing about unicorns and fairies when you have a look at song titles such as "The Blind Leading The Lost", "Dead" or "The Hanging Tree".

And although the main focus lies on some sort of aggressive and hateful atmosphere, sometimes some lovely tunes pop out (may it be some bird and flowing water samples or a string instrument) like in "Nøkk The Soulless" that is quite surprising and cheers it all up a little bit. So where darkness there is is also light.

The six songs are quite long for typical black metal songs, they have about 6 - 8 minutes playing time each, only "All The Pretty Things" falls off the edge here with only 5 minutes. But that really doesn't mean that the tracks get boring in any way. No, they are interesting until the end because of the twists that they offer and this is something that is not the case for many black metal releases. The only thing that is missing on "Heartless" is the one real outstanding track that keeps in mind. But as a debut album the band has created a really good one and we can hope that there will be good things to follow.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by JD on March 18, 2009.

I love metal in all of its devious forms, and my philosophy has always been to give a chance to any metal at any time. Saying that, here we go... The buzz surrounding this brutal band from Michigan called If He Dies, He Dies deemed that I at least give them a fair shake and listen with my mind clear.

At the outset, they seem to be in the vein of bands like Crowbar, Mastodon and High On Fire, it is these influences that certainly develop this bands brutal assault. Pissed off is a light way of describing how If He Dies, He Dies sounds, as the are as good as they are sounding mad at the world. It is clear to who they are, not to mention that they are intelligent as hell as well.

Tracks like 'Heroine', 'Destroyer' and 'A Man Possessed' holds both a great amount of complexity and also pummels you with sheer barbarity in the way they lash out at you both in lyrics and music. They remind me a little of Corrosion Of Conformity at times... and even has some melodic leanings towards the mighty Iron Maiden as well. They blend it all together into their amazing power of what it all is.

They are a band, that clearly makes sure that their lyrics are as good as the music that accompanies it. Truly, this is a band worth watching out for in the near future... because this is a band that is on the verge of metal overlord status. They have to make that next step in their evolution, metalheads for now need to hear them.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 7
Originality: 6.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.7 out of 10