Hard music from Sweden is obviously not all about swinging death’n’roll or In Flames although you’re sometimes lead to that idea.

One of the more interesting releases so far this year comes from symphonic black metallers Netherbird, a three-piece who use hired guns behind the drums in the shape of Adrian Erlandsson, Janne Saarenpää (ex-The Crown) and Brice LeQlerc (ex-Dissection).

‘The Ghost Collector’ is Cradle of Filth/Dimmu Borgir quality stuff, yet with their own distinctive mark of darkness, especially underlined by vocalist Nephente’s devilish grunt.

Although the album is clearly studio work and probably hard to reproduce live, it is a pleasure to sink into the black universe of the Swedes, the excellently grooving horror track The Beauty of Bones and the 14+ minute epos Boulevard Black in particular.

Take a stroll down that black boulevard – I dare you!