Nàda

Switzerland · formed 1992 · last active 1993

Nàda were a Lucerne, Switzerland outfit (active 1992-1997) fusing sludge/doom heaviness with industrial clang and tribal/neofolk percussion, earning Terrorizer coverage in 1994 and comparisons to Neurosis, Swans and Einstürzende Neubauten. Their two albums, 'Celmètra' (1994, Licht & Blindheit/Common Cause) and 'Ùr' (1997, Licht & Blindheit), are murky, ritualistic slabs built on layered percussion and detuned riffing rather than conventional song structure. A largely forgotten act of 90s European experimental sludge, tangential to any scene rather than embedded in one.

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SCORE PROFILE

JazzyBalkanHardcoreSurfBarbershopDeathBlackTechnicalGlitchTheatricalFolkDoomDroneShoegazeAmbient8-bit
Jazzy0
Balkan0
Hardcore0
Surf0
Barbershop0
Death0
Black0
Technical3
Glitch0
Theatrical2
Folk4
Doom5
Drone4
Shoegaze0
Ambient3
8-bit0

Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.

WHY THOSE SCORES

  • Folk 4Celmètra (1994) carries the Discogs style tag 'Tribal' and a period review (The Woodsman's Axe) describes the record as blending 'Neo-Folk' with doom/industrial, built on layered hand percussion.
  • Drone 4The Woodsman's Axe review likens Celmètra's sustained, minimally-riffed heaviness to Swans and Neurosis, describing an 'obscure feeling' generated by sustained industrial tones over song-based riffing.
  • Ambient 3Discogs tags Celmètra 'Avantgarde' alongside Sludge/Industrial/Tribal, and the same review frames the album's atmosphere as murky and immersive rather than riff-driven.

MEMBERS

  • Adriendrums
  • Bumeelectric guitar
  • Romypercussion
  • Remo Seelandpercussion, voice
  • Pathriqvoice, electric bass

FURTHER LISTENING

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