NOTHGARD is a German Epic Melodic Death Metal Band. (Vocalist & Lead-Guitarist Dom R. Crey recently joined German top-notch Epic Metal act EQUILIBRIUM !) Their 2nd full-length "Age Of Pandora" will be released at Sept., 12.!!! With their new and second album "Age Of Pandora" NOTHGARD is heading straight towards to originality, technical finesse and maturity. The outstanding formation stands out for 3 technical guitars and epic orchestral parts combined with influences of Folk, Classic, Melo-Death and Hard Rock. "With 'Age Of Pandora' we've made, what we haven't reached with it's album predecessor. Aggression combined with harmony, technical parts combined with silent nuanced, more emotional, orchestral passages. Even on lyrical level I'm very satisfied this time. There are no clichés at all on these new album, but true real-life topics and very own feelings, which have a deep meaning for me and the band.Simply perfect for our fans to get eventually 'lyrical mirrored' so to say." (Dom R. Crey) In April 2011 NOTHGARD has released their debut album called "Warhorns Of Midgard", which received rave reviews. In the same month they performed their first European tour together with Skyforger, Heljareyga, Gernotshagen, Kromlek and Northland. 2012 Skaahl of the mighty WOLFCHANT joined NOTHGARD as their 3rd guitarist. Since then the line-up is constant and stronger than ever. The new material of NOTHGARD will be bombastic, epic and very technical simply because all three guitars establish a new way of a harmonic interplay between rhythm and double-leads. Beside this "Guitar-Orchestra" the orchestra parts of the keys ensure pure epicness and heroic power all along the line.
Here we have a great example of how you should combine aggressiveness and harmony. The whole album feels very epic and exciting, you feel like headbanging all the time. Everything here is, in my humble opinion, excellent! The orchestral parts, vocals, guitars, drums and bass all working in perfect harmony. Bombastic, incredible and stunning are some of the adjectives we can use to describe “Age of Pandora”. There’s this heroic feeling that uplifts you while listening to the album...I conclude this review by stating that this is one of the finest releases of the year. Or better, will be, as the album is going to be released in September. (metal-maniac.com) 9,8/10
Age of Pandora‘s victorious feel makes for an empowering listening experience, but this isn’t the only technique employed. The dexterous delivery by way of the guitars signals a power metal flavor, especially the many solos that spring up on the tracks. Rushing percussion and busy lyrics equal very few idle moments on the record. While melodies are dazzling enough to keep engagement up, unforgettable performances are found in the catchy rhythms of “Blackened Seed” and the vibrant strands of notes on “Wings of Dawn.” To top that, the sense of precision here is unbelievable. If you’re a melodic death metal diehard and like your songs with the extra fluff and frills, you won’t want to pass this record up. (metalmellowdee)
Well-constructed and brilliantly executed, “Age of Pandora” should put NOTHGARD in great company for the top rungs of Epic Melodic Death Metal. (metal-temple.com) 9/10
"A Alemanha sempre foi conhecida por revelar excelentes bandas e dessa vez a NOTHGARD traz a bandeira Preta, Vermelha e Amarela com muita honra e consegue fazer esse país magnífico se tornar ainda mais completo." 5/5 FULL SCORE (hornsup.com.brazil)
8,5 / 10 for "Age Of Pandora" @ Swiss Gryphon Metal!
"…the songs are great and NOTHGARD reveals itself as one of the best emerging act of the German scene"
Nothgard is growing to be a pretty popular name in the melodic death scene, especially in Europe. This summer, they are sharing the stage with some big names such as Trollfest and Equilibrium. Something tells me they are not going to stop there, these guys are just getting started. Check out Nothgard and be sure to pick up Age of Pandora when it drops mid-September! 9.5/10 (Temple of Darkness)
5 / 5 FULL SCORE! "Age Of Pandora" @ Dutch Brutalism zine!
"NOTHGARD have managed to create the perfect marriage of melody with brutality. Aggressive harmony is what "Age Of Pandora" is all about. Filled with technical workings yet at the same time this is a very emotional album.":
7,5 / 10 for "Age Of Pandora" @ Polish Dark Factory!
7.5 / 10 for NOTHGARD's "Age Of Pandora" @ The Grim Tower (USA)!
"There’s certainly enough here for fans of the genre to chew on, but it’s definitely geared more to those who like their sounds a bit more bombastic while playing a heated game of League Of Legends.":
This album's track list is powerful and as you will listen to it time over again you will feel it's strength and feed from it's current. Be prepared for "Age Of Pandora" is now upon us and hail Nothgard for bringing it out from the shadows and into the light of this plane and time. (brutalism.com) 5/5
HELL IS OPEN - 8 / 10 : "Extremely well executed and an entertaining experience with guaranteed headbanging for the listeners!"
