Band:	Njiqahdda
Album:	Nji. Njiijn. Njiiijn.
Style:	Atmospheric black metal, Psychedelic rock
Release date:	June 2008
A review by:	Lucas

01. Nortii Maatu
02. Aasklamatii Ligmett Aursag
03. Sigmaatiiolaa
04. Urmae Copistrum Xaaqa Qahdda

If you ever need something to illustrate the point "never judge a book by its cover", seek no more. You've found it. I mean – what the fuck. Excuse my language, but really... what the...? Just look at that album cover... it's almost worse than the notorious The Fate Worse Than Death. Sooooooo... let's get on with it, shall we?

Njiqahdda's Nji. Njiijn. Njiiijn. (yeah... I know... sigh... for both physical and mental health reasons, do NOT try to pronounce that) may sound as if it is a terrible curse in the dead language of Chtulhu, and for all I know it might just as well be, but don't let that distract you. What it offers is high-quality Psychedelic Black metal in four intricate songs that all average somewhere around the eightteen minute mark, each captiviting you in their swirling might.

With their sound Njiqahdda is the wet dream of every rabid namedropper. Pink Floyd (psychedelic touches), Drudkh (warm-blooded melodies) and Velvet Cacoon (omnipresent droning buzz) are all easily mentioned. They are far more than just an amalgam of the bands mentioned, though. Opener "Nortii Maatu" is the harshest of the bunch with it's constant menacing whispers and abundance of cymbals and pulsating circling riffs. The booming bass is everpresent and a provides strong capricious undercurrent. Halfway during the song the first Drudkh-ish riff makes it appearance and the song goes dream-wards. The two followers "Aasklamatii Ligmett Aursag" and "Sigmaatiiolaa" continue with dreamy soundscapes, mellow buzzes and slight psychedelic twists, although noise-threats are never far away.

"Urmae Copistrum Xaaqa Qahdda", the closer of the album, is the proverbial cherry on top and an absolute monster of a song clocking in at 21:05. Inhumane croaked whispers, morphed beyond belief, give way to waves of flushed noise, which in their turn brood endlessly before evolving into a droning Floydian tour de force giving this album an ending it deserves.

Nji. Njiin. Njiiin. is unique, twisted and ethereal. An acquired taste, no doubt, but a delicious record till the very core. Headphones are mandatory, as are multiple spins before judgment. There's always more to explore than you might suspect at first. A mind-blower in disguise.