One sign of becoming an old bastard is repeatedly referring to ‘time flying’ – something I find myself regularly writing and saying over recent years. But, with that said; time really does fly doesn’t it? I mean, it only seems like yesterday that Nocturnal were releasing their Fenriz approved debut ‘Arrival of the Carnivore’ to a pretty much unanimous rumble of rapturous applause from the underground massive. However, that was actually a full decade ago. Yeesh. It’s not like the band haven’t been constantly active with a slew of splits, EPs and a 2nd album to their name since (pretty much all of which met with similar praise). However, 2014 sees the arrival of their third full length album ‘Storming Evil’, adding yet another solid, riff packed album of retro black/thrashery to their already impressive catalogue – and shit the bed if it isn’t a proper barnstormer!
Unlike a lot of bands who consciously try to write in a retro-styled vein for some sort of ‘coolness’ factor, Nocturnal are one of the bands who it just seems to come natural for. As clichéd as it is to say, it’s almost as if none of the band had ever heard any music from anything past 1991, instead sticking to stubbornly imbibing every demo band who only ever released something on a shitty C90, before remoulding it into their own carnage filled style. Similar in ways to fellow Germans Desaster, Nocturnal are purely about the power of the guitar riff when it comes to putting their music together, and the proof is in the pudding when listening to this album quite how much dedication has been put into that most important of arts.
The whole album reeks of years of Teutonic thrash worship, combining the finer points of the German ‘big three’, as well as Exumer, Assassin, Deathrow, or just about any German 80s band who Fenriz might happen to have a carefully sewn patch of on his battle jacket. Vocally, Tyrannizer has a harsh hiss which has a high-ended burn out which is a joy to listen to (it really has a fine trill to it, but you really need to hear her at her very angriest to see what I’m referring to!). This is a perfect accompaniment to the great riffage and strong rhythm section keeping everything firmly in its place.
Personally I’m struggling to find much in the way of fault with this album. The fat riffs just grow and grow, battering you into submission with ferocity and spite throughout the albums’ 45 minute run time. It’s packed with intuitive ideas which habitually hark back to the classics, while still managing to bring a level of freshness to the table rather than sounding like a dull re-hash of the band members collective vinyl collections. This is REAL metal, made for true metal heads that’re jaded with the modern, plastic and accepted ‘extreme’. Feel it, breathe it and let it ingest you.
(9/10 Lars Christiansen)
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