The slogan “Obsessed with death” is plastered across the sleeve of this album. This gives you a good idea what’s at the heart of this disc from US band Nocturnal Torment, whose members have strong links to Thanatopsis and Invasion. This is a direct assault from beginning to end. The album has the feel of a live performance with all the associated sweat and energy. One of the band members pays tribute to those at the centre of metal traditions like Black Sabbath, Slayer, Dark Angel, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pestilence, Carnage, Entombed, Slaughter, Infernal Majesty, everyone really. But straight from the metal heart, traditional and old school as it is, “They Come at Night” is not a tribute. The wild energy and brutality make sure of that.
“Vile Affliction”, the opener is a typically busy track. On one level it’s standard Heavy Metal going through the motions. But it’s also deep, dark and penetrating. The movement and pounding death metal structure add value to the standard riffs. Head banging is most certainly encouraged as the ferocity of death metal stands at the forefront. Harsh and swirling death metal takes over from “Alternative Reality”. So throaty and brutal are the growls that there’s a strong hint of blackened death about it. The guitar goes off, as is does throughout the album, on a spree like rampaging wild horses and takes the mayhem to another level as good metal should. Wild drumming, raw firepower and heart growls on “Cycle of Life” again lead us to other places. I like it. In fact “Cycle of Life” is another complex feast, sounding sinister and violent but not overtaken by girly melodies.
I found that in the mid-section of the album there wasn’t much progress. “Fresh Flesh Fetish” and “Bleeding” are typically lively and have a kick but don’t break out of that old school death metal shell. I do appreciate the irresistible energy and intensity and reckon that this would be one dynamic live band. The live energy is captured well. It’s good that there’s no break between tracks, so there’s no chance to mop ourselves down. The brutality steams on with “Sweet Decay”. Pleasingly “Forever Eternal Darkness” enhances the experience. Fast and hard drumming combine with a machine-gun guitar riff and generate new-found excitement. This change in proceedings is what was needed as the track develops with an extra edge. This is what we’ve been missing. The momentum is maintained on the following title track but I felt it once again got lost in its own swirling brutality. There’s no doubt it’s honest metal and it’s not for boys. To end the assault, “Primordial Existence” gives us more turbulent and uncompromising thrashing metal before closing with a typical flourish.
“They Come at Night” is essentially nine slabs of metal brutality. It eschews modernity and simply concentrates on old-fashioned energy. It’s not an album for new discoveries but it’s pure, technical, heavy, intense, hard-hitting and audience-orientated.
(5.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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