Here is one for all our traditionalists out there. Niveous’s debut EP Endless Snowfall, released on March 7th from Transylvanian Recordings, harkens to the greats of second wave with cleaner production. Something advantageous as the bass work here is a shining feature and isn’t muddled in the mix. Not to detract from a solid performance from the vocals, drum, and ice-cold riffs here. The Milwaukee based outfit’s debut is for those fans of the old school without being reductionist in their approach.

Into the Abyssal Maw is a solid opener that sets the pace of feral play to come. This doesn’t waste time with fluff or the superfluous and opts for raw brutality. With that in mind it never seems to sink into the pitfall of being “too much”. The composition is balanced and still a fun listen without much pretension.

The overall musicianship carries over into the second track Glacial Kingdom: Frozen Utopia. Some could argue it is Immortal worship but, who can fault anyone for worshiping the greats? This is my favorite track on the album and has already entered my top contenders for song of the year. It’s frosty, dark and exciting.

Reign of the Obsidian Eclipse is the best example of how creative one can be while still working within the parameters of second-wave sound. The guitars are a vocal point that is accented by bestial drums. There is also care given here to balance out the backdrop of aggression with drawn out crackling vocals.

The last song …of Endless Snowfall (also the album’s namesake) slows the tempo a bit without losing the power that carries the music. It is only a short reprieve though as when the guitars kick back in it becomes something truly fantastical. Discordant in all the right ways, furious and bleak.

Endless Snowfall as a debut is hopefully a strong start to what is sure to be an incredible discography. Please give them a listen over on Bandcamp and go support their work. Until then, hails or something.