Band: Nooit
Genre: Slam/Brutal Death/Black Metal
EP: (Vergif)
Year: 2026
(Reviewed by Raaf Atasi for MetalfromNL)
Disclaimer: I used the genres above based on what I found on Metal Archives. However, I have some reservations about that, which will be showcased in this review.
Nooit is a new extreme metal project that graced the Dutch metal scene in 2025. This new metal outfit was founded by (Ivo S. Bijker) from the bands Hakselaer, Krijs and Wiltondale, and who plays all the instruments and drum programming on this EP, alongside vocalist of Facing the Madness and Procreation (Erik Bakker) who takes on all vocal duties. This 7 song/25 minute long EP is the band's first full release, and I gotta say right from the get go, what an intense experience! Also worth mentioning, Nooit's Ivo and Erik have released a single titled 'Schaduw' in 2025, but it didn't make it on the EP 'Vergif'.
Composition
Firstly, to my ears, this EP should be categorized in the encapsulating genre; Extreme Metal. It is a melting pot of so many subgenres of extreme metal. For example, Erik's vocals are in a unique grey area between black and death metal. It is more shouty than shrieky or growly (to use common terminologies). I don't feel that it is characteristic of neither black nor death metal. It has a bit of that Urfaust type of singing (which I guess is kinda black metal-ish), but without the singing attempts, only the tormented wailing parts. That being said, at the end of minute 2 of the opening track 'Asregen', you can hear a gnarly growl from Erik. This lasts but a few seconds before he gets back to the screamy voice. To be clear, I'm not trying to diminish the vocals by any means, they have their own atmosphere and impact, for sure. I'm merely debating the chosen genre(s) for the band because I cannot fully feel the slam or the brutal death part of the categorization. Moreover, musically speaking, 'Asregen' has a clear sludgy doomy "Sabbathy" sense to it in several places. In fact, the Sludge (and even Industrial) elements can be heard on other tracks across the EP such as 'Geen Genade' and 'Schemerlicht', to name a couple.
On that note, it is important to state that there is more to this EP than black, death and sludge. There is noise, there is experimental, atmosphere and, as mentioned above, it wanders into the "Industrial Area" especially with the programmed drums accompanied with some trippy and hauntingly terrorizing ambience. Definitely brings to mind the sound of bands like Ministry, Voivod and Fear Factory here and there.
Are there some black metal elements on the EP? Certainly. And I would argue that there is more black metal than brutal death metal or slam. The keys used on several songs and the ominous licks such as (minute 2:09) on the 2nd track 'Duis Ternis' and up until (minute 3:31) are legit black metal menace! Then the sludgy noisy signature blasts in, making the preceding haunting insanity draw into a heart-dropping halt. Another example would be the opening riff to the song 'Gevangen', as well as (minute 1:53) of the same track where you can hear cool blastbeat and tremolo picking and a bit of symphonic black metal reminiscent of bands like Old Man's Child and Dimmu Borgir. Another portrayal of black metal would be on (minute 0:30) of the song 'Kwelling'. Those are legit black metal sections with a tinge of melodic black thrown into the riff. Nevertheless, you can also hear the noisy industrial, parts on 'Kwelling' (minute 1:52) with these dissonant notes that remind me a bit of Machine Head's sophomore album 'The More Things Change' mixed with a disturbingly tortured vocals by Erik.
Now, are there any death metal elements on this record? Yes. Besides the aforementioned growl on 'Asregen', some death metal chugs can be spotted on 'Gevngen' (minute 2:42) and the opening riff to 'Duis Ternis', among others. However, to me, the death (and black) metal sparks are all wrapped within the crimson noisy, sludgy, industrial (almost mechanical at points) embrace. The sound of the distorted bass alone, and how prominent it is in the mix, emits an immediate stoner sludge aura across the whole EP.
One thing that jumps at you early on in the listening experience is Ivo's compositional chops where he implements so much dissonance and many ear-piercing choices of notes. It feels like a devastating journey of controlled chaos throughout. The track 'Geen Genade' is a perfect example of that, with those evil muddy and chuggy rhythmic sections accompanied with those melodic licks (some are even in the major scale). This gives the listener a very unsettling sensation but in a very good way. It keeps them on their toes trying to desparately put 384728 and 3745959 together while devoured into a swirling vortex of terror.
The drums are not there to give a "headbangy" feel nor to showcase any specific technicality. It is there as a persistent sledgehammer that keeps beat with a steady mechanical pummel, which oddly fits with the overall atmosphere that the band was aiming for.
One of the highlights on this EP is the guest lead work on 'Schemerlicht' done by (Arjan Snijder) from the Thrash Metal outfit Deadly Alliance. His leads adds melody and a well-needed shift of dynamic and ambience. Another highlight from the same song is the first minute in general, and the 3 guitar parts composed by Ivo. You can hear 2 guitars doing this sick lick and, at the center of it all, the rhythm guitar is pummeling like a wrecking ball.
One more element I found very endearing was the sporadic odd time signatures on songs like 'Geen Genade' and the mid section to the title track 'Vergif'. These almost "proggy" parts definitely add more texture to the composition and make it more interesting. As I mentioned, they remind me of bands like Fear Factory, Voivod and even a bit of Meshuggah (especially that mid section of the title track and the dissonant high notes behind the rhythm).
Performance
Ivo's guitar work on the EP is really solid and unique. The EP does not have solos in the legit sense except for the one on 'Schemerlicht' where (Arjan Snijder - Deadly Alliance) appears as a guest. However, the rhythm sections are tight and cleverly composed throughout the record. Ivo obviously has an array of influences that led to the composition of this haunting EP, and he executes it all tastefully and competently. He seamlessly combines different styles and transitions from something that is so nasty and filthy to something more symphonic and elegant. And his attention to details when it comes to adding some high guitar notes in the background behind certain rhythm sections to create more atmosphere and ambience is certainly admirable.
As for the vocals, which I think is the most controversial element here, I like the purpose and the vision. The tortured wailings are eerie, gut-wrenching, and sometimes downright horrifying like on the track 'Kwelling' and the title track 'Vergif'. However, I felt that if Erik had added a different pitch, like legit shrieks or growls (just like that vicious growl he did on 'Asregen') it would have given the EP more vocal dynamics and made these shrilling screams even more special when they pop. Here, the vocals feel a bit monotonous with the use of one pitch throughout the EP. Nevertheless, I guess it boils down to taste at the end of the day, and I'm sure there are people that will rightfully like this style of singing on the entire EP because it IS done well and perfectly delivers the message and the vile noisy sound that the band was aiming for. But I would have loved some changes and surprises in the form of full-fledged black metal screeches and possibly more death metal growls to break the pattern.
Production
I like the fuzzy, bass-based overtone of the whole EP. It paves a certain mood and sets forth certain expectations on how the whole record will sound musically and stylistically. I felt that the drums were a bit low in the mix and sounded a bit too mechanical for my taste. Additionally, the vocals are also pulled back to the background in comparison with the other instruments. However, on the other hand, with this vocal style, I think it would be overbearing if the vocals were louder in the mix. But I like the prominent bass and the beefy guitar sound and, overall, I like the atmosphere of the EP. One thing I found a bit weird is how the songs end. They feel like they were cut midway most of the times. You can hear it on 'Asregen', 'Kwelling', 'Schemerlicht' and even on the final track 'Vergif'. It leaves the listener a bit confused whether the song was over or not. I don't know if that was deliberate to add more of that unsettling feeling to the EP (which it kinda does), but it was an issue worth mentioning nevertheless.
Conclusion
The EP 'Vergif' is a unique 7 song/25 minute experience. Chaotic, noisy, black, death, sludge industrial and, as I've said a few times earlier, unsettling, which is the perfect adjective for the EP. It has several moments of brilliance in terms of composition and/or atmosphere, especially being the first effort that Nooit has unleashed yet, aside from the previous single 'Schaduw'. This EP is a mishmash of styles and moods that will certainly give the listener a visceral aesthetic of a trip. It is one of those records which every time you listen to it, you discover something new. I'm really looking forward to hearing where those 2 maniacs are planning on going next!
Rating
8/10
