Album Review: NNRA – Incarne (Self Released)

Incarne is the galvanic new album from instrumental post-black metal project NNRA due for release on April 26th 2019. Incarne embraces an impressionist post-heavy aura while unequivocally stretching towards industrial and electronic soundscapes.

In the studio, NNRA is the brainchild of Louis Lambert (DDENT). On stage, he surrounds himself with various musicians and video projections crafted and performed live by Sébastien Mathieu.

The new album illustrates an old Arab tale about incarnation. In the old days, there was no colour, gardens were grey and nightingales were silent. Yet one day, a nightingale fell in love of a rose, and loved it so much that he wanted to embody it. He squeezed it so tightly to his chest, that the rose threw a thorn into his heart. His red blood spread and gave colour to the roses, and thereafter to the world, while his piercing cries of pain gave nightingales the ability to sing.

It is a poem about love, the creation of life, when one loves something so much that one wants to embody it physically; in Latin, in carne means ‘in the flesh’. No life, no colour or music without devouring passion. Sebastien Mathieu (video/artwork) and Louis Lambert (music) were fascinated by this concept and decided to pay tribute to this poem, and more widely work on the concept of incarnation, illustrating it with this album, and the video that will be screened on stage.

Incarne is a single piece, divided into movements that follow the rhythm of the poem, and the nightingale’s story.

Fascinating. Just one word needed to describe Incarne and what NNRA accomplish here. It’s all about depth and emotion. Memorable post-heaviness with industrial electronica spattered throughout. The first two movements have an almost warning like rhythm to them, building to a really darkness covered sound. Like a villain chasing his victim in a horror movie with brief moments of hope to her eventual fightback. It’s those that showcase the post stylings of NNRA.

The 2nd Movement bleeds into the 3rd Movement before eschewing the more intense side for melodic wonder and beauty. Subtle and even when it kicks things up a gear it still has that uplifting feel.

With that segment done, Movement 4A and Movement 4B serve up something a little more foot-tapping and rhythmic. Still with that sense of wonder but here the sunshine is shining brightly on us. Just listen to that saxophone at the end!

Finally we get the 5th and 6th Movements, both taking us back to the darkness covered heaviness experienced at the start alongside gorgeous melodies, uplifting high points and threatening lows.

While it is based around the Arab tale told above, it’s not something I’m familiar with so it’s hard to put the music to it. Instead I find myself picturing a battle against good and evil, sci-fi worlds, expansive colours and impossible imagery. It’s very good.

NNRA – Incarne Full Track Listing:

1. 1st Movement
2. 2nd Movement
4. 3rd Movement
5. Movement 4A
6. Movement 4B
7. 5th Movement
8. 6th Movement

The album can be ordered via Bandcamp while more information can be found out about NNRA over on Facebook and YouTube.