Nexion - Sundrung

Angry Metal Guy

I was late to the Nexion train when debut masterpiece Seven Oracles dropped five years ago. Peddling blackened death metal of the Icelandic persuasion, the occult quintet floored me with their writhing, twisted take on the genre, fronted by possibly the best vocalist in black metal right now.¹ It’s 2025, and a new Nexionic invocation approaches, looming over this world with a heart full of chaos and a mind consumed in shadow. Is it too much to ask this latest summoning, entitled Sundrung, to match the imposing, irresistible presence of its predecessor?

Likely so, but Sundrung stands tall on its own regardless. In sound, scale, and style, Nexion’s concoction carries over to 2025 unadulterated. Every ingredient that made Seven Oracles the unmistakable omen that it was persists here with equal potency. Pummeling drums propel shimmering black metal riffs and deathly marches, while Nexion’s infernal siren screeches, roars, wails, and rumbles as only the most powerful spirits of unknown realms can. With a stronger emphasis on throat singing, baritone chanting, and ascendant melodies than before, Nexion doubles down on their occult theme and aesthetic while also recalling Sulphur Aeon‘s eldritch touch (“Visions of the Seventh Fire”). Sundrung also retains the gnarled, deceptively hooky metamorphoses that characterized Nexion’s previous work. However, a greater reliance on repetition and more linear structures drives deeper those key phrases and memorable moments that form the backbone of Sundrung’s 8 realms.

Sundrung by Nexion

Sundrung may be more straightforward than Seven Oracles in most respects, but it requires quality time to bloom. At first, I was concerned that the repetitive nature of “Gandr” sacrificed too much focus from the whole, and created a lull in momentum. However, in remarkably short order I found myself hypnotized by its compelling chorus chants and oscillating riffs. A surprise to be sure, but it’s not the only one. “When Raven Steals the Sun” and “Rending the Black Earth” at first left me wanting for more creativity, something that elevated these pieces beyond that of what I already expect from Icelandic black metal. Once again, repeat spins revealed subtleties. In “When Raven Steals the Sun,” for example, intricately detailed and intentionally placed background melodies—often burgeoning through the fiery tremolos, bending riffs, and charred rasps—simultaneously fortify connections and ease transitions between distinct passages. Meanwhile, “Rending the Black Earth” intensified the more often I returned, blazing with an unearthly vitality and an unhinged spirit that invigorates its epic trem-picked refrains and double-bass pummels. Consequently, these numbers slowly became some of my favorites over time.

On the other side of the same coin, those cuts that attack with immediacy and power always ensure memorability, but compromise a small measure of depth and nuance in exchange. Opener “Uflarpaspa” and album highlight “Hymn of the Valkyrjur” are the most successful in navigating this tricky balance. The former makes a magnificent opener, showcasing everything that Nexion does well, with a little extra aggression to keep things interesting. The latter, a momentous march with a face-twisting riffset built for the stage, “Hymn of the Valkyrjur” offers instant hooks without disposing those unfolding deviations from repetition that set Nexion’s material apart from the pool. However, they still lack the same surprising level of detail that makes “When Raven Steals the Sun,” “Gandr,” and even epic closer “Visions of the Seventh Fire” such a joy to spend extra time with.

In sum, Sundrung has the potential to challenge listeners as often as it will delight them. Certainly one of the more interesting records to come from the Icelandic scene, it offers a varied combination of immediacy and nuance. But it takes patience and focus to perceive those attributes. Some listeners—especially those who are not duty bound to spin records a dozen times before settling on a score—might not want to put that effort in. I argue that you ought to anyway. It may not be flawless, nor is it quite as universally successful as Seven Oracles, but Sundrung is nonetheless worthy of enthusiastic recommendation.

Rating: Very Good!
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: V0 mp3
Label: Avantgarde Music
Websites: nexion.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Nexionband
Releases Worldwide: September 19th, 2025

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