Njiqahdda - Nji.Njiijn.Njiiijn.

Band Njiqahdda
Album Nji.Njiijn.Njiiijn.
Genre Post-Black Metal
Label Pagan Flames
Year of release 2007
Line-up / (guitar, clean vox, keys/synth, field recordings, texts)
_ (drums, bass, distorted vox)
Rating 5/5
Tracklist:

1. Nortii maatu
2. Aasklamatii ligmett aursag
3. Sigmaatiiolaa
4. Urmae copistrum xaaga qahdda


This is the first album I've experienced by this mysterious, US based two man act, having already released quite a massive amount of recorded material in a short time, spanning almost 3 years, producing hours worth of LONG tracks and creating a growing buzz within the underground of experimental post-black metal.

Everything about this digipak release is very ambitious, deeply absorbing and absolutely amazing, creating inspiring, dreamy, dark melancholic, meditative meanderings where there is plenty of time to dwell on the 4 lengthy passages that are each at least 15 minutes or longer.
The two members, / and _ are both of prolific underground unblack solo acts, including the producer W. I believe. The Njiqahdda name has several meanings, one being "disciple of truth" while it's also interesting to note they compiled the Njiijn language, an amalgamation of mutiple languages and texts. The basic concept of this cd is about the continual attainment of enlightenment and evolution for human kind, whether that is achieved mentally, physically or spiritually is up to the listener, but in typical Njiijn style it's very abstract and obscure.

There's are merging of influences, building and rising in organic yet ethereal ambiance, nicely layered, creating varied effects with more angles to it being revealed upon repeated listens that make these slow building tidal jams a highly refreshing listen every time. The riffing is mezmerising and minimalistic, occasionally stripping down to a post-rock jangle, revealing the strummed naked belly and gradually building into an unblackened hypnotic white fire buzz, haunting in murk and majesty. With intricate equalization, compression and effects the production is dense among the buzz and jangle,w ith welcome clearly heard throbbing bass and amazing drumming with shimmering cymbals, all adding a majical texture of sluge drenched in hiss and fuzz emanating, shifting, streaming in trance inducing ebb. The vocals rage and fade in the background sounding like a turbulant howling wind ripping through a narrow channel in an ocean front mountain of rock, totally indecipherable in washed out texturing that adds a ghostly and desolate creepish swirl of twisted shapes.

Sigmaatiiolaa is an outstanding track, clocking in at over 17 minutes with its brillant tension building and then soaring key melodies, weaving in and out in majestic dark edged beauty. Experience this unique ritualistic psychadelic post-black metal art for yourself, pick up a copy of this album and slot it next to your Flaskavsae and Agathothodion albums with confidence.

Review by DrawnsworD (September 27 - 2008)