CoC : Nokturnal Mortum - NeChrist : Review

Nokturnal Mortum - _NeChrist_
(The End, 2000)
by: Brian Meloon (7 out of 10)

Nokturnal Mortum's latest release could be described as a mix of their previous two releases, _Goat Horns_ [CoC #31] and _To the Gates of Blasphemous Fire_ [CoC #38], though I find it to be slightly more in the vein of the latter. The music is fast and brutal black metal, with a significant folk influence and dual keyboardists. Folky parts are interspersed with black metal parts, and in places layered over them. While this isn't a particularly original combination, Nokturnal Mortum do have their own sound, due partly to their use of traditional Slavic folk, and the variety of woodwinds they use. The interplay of their dual keyboardists with the rest of the band also remains a distinguishing feature. The playing and production are once again top-notch. The playing seems a little more technical this time, though I find the production could've been a bit more powerful. Although there are 88 tracks on the CD, tracks 10-87 are each 4 seconds long, and consist of nature sounds (birds chirping, frogs croaking, etc.), leaving the CD with 10 longish tracks of brutal black metal. Ultimately, this is not a groundbreaking album, but it is well done, and is likely to appeal to fans of the style.

(article published 12/8/2000)

ALBUMS
2/14/2010	K Sarampalis	9.5	Nokturnal Mortum - The Voice of Steel
5/24/2005	Q Kalis	9	Nokturnal Mortum - Weltanschauung
11/29/2004	Q Kalis	7.5	Nokturnal Mortum - Twilightfall
10/14/2003	Q Kalis	8.5	Nokturnal Mortum - The Taste of Victory
8/12/2001	B Meloon	8	Nokturnal Mortum - Lunar Poetry
3/14/1999	B Meloon	7	Nokturnal Mortum - To the Gates of Blasphemous Fire
6/7/1998	B Meloon	8	Nokturnal Mortum - Goat Horns