Four Seasons to a Depression

'Four Seasons to a Depression' signals a return to the good old ways of black metal. No matter what form of black metal it is, it has to be an honest portrayal of life and death by using a repetitive semblance of noise that is willing to challenge any aspect of both life and death that comes under the negativity tag. The attitudes of popular music and the culture of popular music is completely removed from history. Nocturnal Depression's brief career within the depressive black metal genre takes another step towards greatness. The crown is now descending upon them and their quest to become one of the best bands in the history of the genre is nearing.


'Four Seasons to a Depression' is a depiction of the four seasons in a year through the eyes of Nocturnal Depression. I see it as how they see each season as a bringer of something evil. Each season of the year has the ability to invoke emotion from humans, as do Nocturnal Depression. In a sense, they are nature herself, but personified. They move in and out of each season with repetitive riffs of glorious failure. Sweeping through each season like a breeze of wind over it's audience. Moving subtly in and out with ease, letting no object stand in it's path. Riffs that are able to consume you. In through your mouth and down to your heart. Taking over what you currently are and transforming you into another slave to Nocturnal Depression's music.


Monotonous percussion serves well to expand what the guitars are laying down for us. They give a harsher feel to the repetitiveness of 'Four Seasons to a Depression'. The steadily build throughout, creating an abundance of feeling. From melancholy to the sheer delight of death. As death is seen as the only way out of this cyclical process of depression and despair. Nocturnal Depression aren't afraid to explore the realms of negative emotions. They, in actual fact, boil negative emotions to the surface. Causing them to bubble over and burn what lays in it's path. The ambience the pedals of the guitars cause, gives a feeling of isolation. A hollow sound is produced to give a sense of a lack of any beings around you. You're surrounded by an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Nocturnal Depression are masters at providing emotive music through the use of electric acoustics which are slowly developed over a long period of time.


'Four Seasons to a Depression' isn't in a rush. It gives itself space and time to manoeuvre. Time to develop it's themes precisely and without leaving the audience with a feeling of overpowering inadequacy. Largely, 'Four Seasons to a Depression' is repetitive. You will have to bear with it as it slowly creates it's desired sound. Ambient sections are used throughout the demo very well. They give the audience a break from the repetitive driving nature the distorted guitars create and the rasping screams of the vocals. At times, the vocals can alter to spoken word, but this isn't frequently used. Nocturnal Depression's music is fitting. Slow rhythms add up to spoken word and acoustic parts. faster tremolo picked sections add up to a rasping style of vocals. Each segment is well thought out and that can be put down to good songwriting. 'Four Seasons to a Depression' is a very worthy demo of it's genre. It does the depressive black metal industry proud.