Artist: Nema
Country: Germany
Label: Northmoon Zephyr Productions
Formats: 7″ EP
Year: 2025
Nema was a German Black Metal band that by now has been dead and buried many times longer than it was actually alive. In their short lifespan of about four years Nema produced two demo tapes and contributed to two split 7” EP’s. The first with one of the most legendary bands from their native Germany, Moonblood and the other with Mordulv from Denmark which had members who would later reappear in bands like Denial Of God, Sadomator, Illdisposed, Exmortem and Church Bizarre. What we have here is a 7” EP that compiles both tracks from those split releases.
Although at first glance Nema seems to be nothing more than a footnote in the history of Black Metal, it is bigger than you might initially assume. Nema would be the stepping stone for singer Traumatic, who would later join Witchburner, Hellish Crossfire and, about ten years later, Baxaxaxa, where he still stands behind the microphone to this day. Around the time of Nema, he also started the label Obscure Arts Productions, which released four fairly obscure cassette tapes in 1995 and 1996. However, it is perhaps that label, which after a name change in 1997 continues as Iron Bonehead Productions, that will ring a bell with most people.
But, also on a musical level, these early Nema recording are very much worth listening to, even today, some three decades later. Perhaps even more now, today, than when it was released. Back around the mid 90’s the Second Wave Black Metal and the first steps into what would become the more commercialized brand of the genre started to take off. Nema, on the other hand, was nothing but a full-blown regressive, atmospheric First Waver. Heavily and clearly built on the heritage of early Varathron, Mystifier, Mortuary Drape, Barathrum, Samael… With a heavy use of keyboards and with a slow tempo, both songs are all about doom and gloom, with a true occult and necro atmosphere. Both tracks are rather lengthy, clocking around seven minutes each, the band used that full playing for building tension through deep dynamics. There’s lots of parts with a sinister ambiance, while other passages are clearly more “traditional” Black Metal, but it was all woven together with a remarkable sense for craftsmanship.
This sort of Black Metal will certainly be better received in today’s constellation. Bands like Forbidden Temple, Moenen Of Xezbeth, Crypts Of Wallachia, Perverted Ceremony, Hann Valaar, Ophidian, Black Edifice, Ceremonial Torture, Moonfall, Darkera, Ceremonial Incantations, Phlegeton’s Majesty, Cult Of Eibon, Funerealm Gloom, Necromonarchia Daemonum, Draconian Key, Necromantical Invocation and Baxaxaxa are getting quite a bit of recognition… If Nema would be active today, it would be among the best of these contemporary defenders of the ancient sound.
This EP, which is an posthumous accolade to both Nema and the whole German Black Metal scene of the mid- to late 90’s, was released through the Finnish label Northmoon Zephyr Productions, run by Goatprayer of Witchcraft, Moonfall, Ceremonial Torture, Darkera, Funerealm Gloom, Necromonarchia Daemonum and a few more. So, if the above plea argument wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe Goatprayer’s nose for all that’s ancient and necro might.
