What do you get when you combine elves, Italy, a story about the sorrows of living in Middle Earth, epic symphonic implementation and folk wankery, and throw in costumed theatrics and a fully fleshed out concept album? No, you don’t get Rhapsody. Wait, yeah you do, but don’t go running just yet. This isn’t Rhapsody. Not by a long shot. No high pitched clean singing that will make eunuchs proud, no yapping on about dragons and hobbits, and no rambling on and on about Dungeons and Dragons.

No, this is Italy’s Nazgul, and Nazgul is fucking different as all hell. First, this isn’t gender-questioning power metal. Not at all. Nazgul plays a folk brand of black metal that combines a wide variety of folk writing, classical vocal stylings, and symphonic black metal shrieking in the correct manner. Yes, they sing about elves in Middle Earth… getting slaughtered, disemboweled, and torn apart by an insidious Dark Lord who wins the final battle… all while in Latin! But wait there’s more!

While there are a variety of vocal approaches used all over the album, the real treat is the truly unique lead vocals. Ever wondered want a black metal album would sound like if it was fronted by the Little Engine that Could? Vocalist Zakrathor is the world’s only human train whistle. "Wait, a train whistle? WHAT IN THE BLOODY FUCK?" I know it sounds dumb. I know it sounds insane. But the craziest thing? It fucking works! Don’t ask how, but Nazgul pulls it off. It must be heard to be believed, but trust me they make it work.

De Expugnatione Elfmuth has to be a forgotten seal of the apocalypse or something. Somehow a band whose general description bares striking resemblances to Rhapsody has pulled off a top notch black metal record with a human train whistle on vocals. All while singing in Latin. Apparently, the nerd metal fans now have something to be proud of while they throw around their 20-sided dice.

Written By: Necro-tron