Nadja - Radiance of Shadows

Label: Alien8 Recordings
Catologue Number: ALIENCD72
Format: CD
Date: 2001
Style: Post Rock / Post Metal / Noise
Rating: 8/10
Reviewer: Sidney James

Just when you thing that the whole post rock / metal quiet loud thing has become old rope a band comes along that pushes things to the outer limits of that genre. That band is Nadja, the project of Aiden Baker. Radiance of Shadows is the third release by the band this year and is the most monstrous release so far.

Firstly it’s monstrous in its length. Three tracks fill the 79 minutes of the album, but this is no voyage into prog meandering or conceptual ambience. This is secondly because the album is monstrous in its sound. Where as most post metal starts gentle and builds into something louder, Nadja’s ambience is that of noise. Feedback drones, buzzing amps. Then it builds and builds like a jumbo jet taking off inside you head and then plummeting into the ground.

However Nadja aren’t a noise for nose sake band. There is subtlety and beauty amongst the sonic eruptions. Just when you think you are going to be overwhelmed, Nadja manages to bring you back from the brink of chaos just to push you to the limits once more.

If there is a criticism of Radiance of Shadows it is that at 79 minutes it’s can be overbearing especially for the casual listener. Nadja are probably best experienced by the novice by listening to the shorter and more direct Guilted by the Sun. However those wishing to push the musical limits and experience Nadja at full blast then Radiance of Shadows is the album to get. Just don’t expect any niceties or any apologises.