Nomad Son
First Light / Pilgrimages of Doom (DVD)

January 2014
Released: 2013, Metal On Metal Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Robert Williams

With three full-length albums under their belt for Italy's Metal On Metal Records, FIRST LIGHT the debut full-length from Malta's finest doom metal export Nomad Son has undergone the deluxe re-issue treatment (complete with a DVD of live festival footage and various interview and TV clips) entitled "Pilgrimages of Doom". Not too shabby for an album released in 2008 that also emerged the following year in vinyl format.



There's already a previous review in the Metal-Rules.com archives for FIRST LIGHT written by Metal-Rules alumni Luxi Lahtinen back in March 2010 so I will focus my review primarily around the previously unreleased DVD content that comprises the PILGRIMAGES OF DOOM side of this uniquely packaged split release.



The Hammer Of Doom VI footage on PILGRIMAGES OF DOOM looks to be professionally filmed and is of high quality, effectively capturing the band's live performance canvassed against a thick fog of smoke machines and ambient lighting. Jordan Cutajar emerges cloaked in a black hood as he takes the stage to perform "The Vigil" in front of a massive gathering of metal fans.

Nomad Son are actually much more animated onstage then I suspected they would be. The keyboardist Julian Grech in particular, going crazy banging his head during the band's live performance. The band perform's "Sigma Draconis" Shallow Grave" and "Seven Notes In Black" before closing with "Winds In Golgotha".



The footage for the Doomsday IV festival is also a pro multi-cam shoot showcasing the band in a more intimate small nightclub setting in contrast to the two songs taken from the Headbanger's Open Air XII footage where the band are performing at what appears to be a good sized beer hall. The setlist for the Doomsday IV festival is similar to the Hammer OF Doom VI setlist but this time they include "At The Threshold's of Consciousness" and "Empyrean Fade". For the Headbanger's Open Air performance we are treated to "Sign of the Wolf" and "Empyrean Fade" and closing things out are two songs taken from the "Doom Shall Rise VII festival with "Forever Twilight" and "At The End of My Daze". There's also a performance of "The Light At The End" taken from a television show called Generation.



Also included is an interview conducted by Andreas "Neadi" Neaderth filmed for the Streetclip.tv website and a slideshow. The booklet is a deluxe 12 panel, full color insert with liner notes, lyrics, album credits and band photos.



Here's to hoping that Metal On Metal Records continues to release more quality CD/DVD combo's in the future. I'd like to see similar treatments for other roster acts like Skelator, Attacker, Heretic and Meliah Rage. I'm definitely impressed with this label's dedication to their craft and consistency in unleashing stellar releases to the underground.