Forming in 2017 in Arvika, Värmland, Nephila prides themselves on being a love letter to the otherworldly 70’s psychedelia of yesteryear and the theatricality of space rock. Will their latest venture live up to its hype?
Sweden has birthed many prolific bands, including (but not limited to) Candlemass, Cult of Luna, and Arch Enemy – joining the lineup is the mysteriously masked seven-piece Nephila, who blend space rock soundscapes with perfectly executed harmonies, lyrics inspired by world mythology and Nordic folklore, and a bass tone that could fit on Black Sabbath’s doomy self-titled record. Opening their sophomore full-length release HULDRA with the atmospherically pagan ‘Mother of The Woods’, the track acts as a grand introduction to the album, almost as if twin frontwomen Josephine Asker and Linn Edlund are summoning the forest spirits themselves with dual death-defying siren songs before thundering into the towering bluesy riffs and stampeding drums of ‘In Her Hands’, which lyrically tackles female empowerment with a spellbindingly occult twist.
“Their perseverance to continue during times of turmoil is certainly inspiring”
This project took over three years for Nephila to complete due to lineup changes, the pandemic, and their label unfortunately declaring bankruptcy right before its release last year, but their perseverance to continue during times of turmoil is certainly inspiring, and their production value being upped compared to the raw self-titled debut really brings a kaleidoscopic edge to HULDRA. Now loyal to the DIY label Majestic Mountain (Electric Hydra, Grand Cadaver, Mama Doom), this change has arguably allowed Nephila to thrive as an established seven-piece who possess both the style and the substance.
Although there are plenty of standouts on this release, the harmonies are absolutely flawless, both vocally and in the intricate guitar work; especially on the proggy ‘The Hidden Folk’, the nod to Celtic witchcraft and the elements on the jam-band inspired and mostly instrumental ‘Capercaillie’s Theme’, and the closing track ‘F.I.N.N.’ which was a perfect choice for a single. Despite its accessibility with memorable riffs aplenty which hark back to the golden age of blues rock for many and a dynamic and uplifting chorus, ‘F.I.N.N.’ still remains a standout due to the outstanding clarity of the dual vocalists and is certainly an energetic end to an album that may not be filled with blistering riffs and unbridled rage but does exactly what it says on the tin.
HULDRA isn’t just an album; it’s a love letter to the classic blues, prog, and rock artists that came before with a glossy twist. If you’re a fan of the raw and soulful Blues Pills, the throwback Zeppelin-influenced Graveyard, or the campy nihilism of Lucifer, Nephila is the band for you.