Album Review: Nightmare - Encrypted
Reviewed by Rich Oliver
Nightmare are a French heavy metal institution who have been in existence on and off since 1979 originally forming as a punk rock band before pursuing all things metal initially active until 1988. After an eleven year hiatus Nightmare returned to the metal fold with a new found power metal sound and have been steadily releasing albums since adjusting their sound to reflect the times but always staying true to their metal core. Unlike most bands who soften with age, Nightmare have been growing ever harder and heavier with albums such as “Genetic Disorder”, “The Aftermath” and “Dead Sun”. Their most recent release from 2020 “Aeternam” was a career best release in my opinion which incorporated a harder thrash edge. Four years later and Nightmare have stepped it up a notch again with possibly their heaviest album to date and their twelfth full length “Encrypted”.
“Encrypted” is still the same melodic power metal that Nightmare have become known for since their 1999 reformation though this is the harsher end of power metal with far more grit than the standard European power metal. There is also a big influence from melodic death metal and other extreme metal genres with a greater inclusion of harsh vocals as well as elements such as blast-beats, melodic death metal style riffing and plenty of thrash crunch.
The melodies and hooks are still big and catchy and there are songs full of earworms as can be heard in ‘Nexus Inferis’ and ‘Saviours Of The Damned’ though songs such as ‘The Blossom Of My Hate’ and ‘Borderlines’ kick up the intensity and the title track even has some symphonic black metal influence. The same line-up remains from the previous album bar the vocalist with previous singer Madie departing the band in 2022 so “Encrypted” introduces new frontwoman Barbara Mogore who has an excellent melodic voice which is quite understated but feels in keeping with the darker tone of the power metal that Nightmare play on this album. She also brings harsh vocals which are used quite frequently throughout the album without being overused.
Nightmare have reinvented themselves many times throughout their long career and have a strong discography. “Encrypted” is another great album in their catalogue with its heavier approach to power metal. The album does suffer from being a bit samey at times with a number of songs all following the same pace and structure and becoming indistinguishable from each other but there are also clear highlights which show that the band are far from running out of steam. Nightmare clearly have a line-up that is really working for them now demonstrated with a chunky re-recording ‘Eternal Winter’ from their 2009 album “Insurrection”. If you like melodic metal with a harsher edge then “Encrypted” should be finding its way onto your playlist.
