Spleen Black Metal

Succeeding last year’s re-recording of “Near To The Stars” that was originally issued back in 2004 as a demo, the depressive and suicidal black metal (DSBM) pioneers Nocturnal Depression are back with the new album “Spleen Black Metal” released via Avantgarde Music.

In spite of the melody provided by the lead guitar, Nocturnal Depression have never been too much keen to nostalgic and utterly sad soundscapes that have been spread through the DSBM scene in the recent past. The band’s melodies were always very bleak and always emanated a very own musical depression; that is, they’ve always preferred the grimmest and self-imposed suffering soundscapes. This might make us realize that the more traditional black metal is this collective’s true base. Even so, the more luminous and melancholic melodies haven’t vanished at all as we even find something like that in the third track “Acédie”, and that composition ends to accompany Lord Lokhraed’s tragic and painful screeches. The drumming work is mainly fast and furious, but it doesn’t destroy the band’s melodic side; on the contrary, a nice musical harmony is felt at the end of it all.

Showing development, this record presents two innovations: a richest and refined production as well as the inclusion of string instruments that emerge in some key points. Nonetheless, it’s possible to find reminiscences of the past, like “Un immense désespoir”, making us believe that Lord Lokhraed didn’t forget the tragic and grim genesis of his project – it’s just that everything is more polished and less raw. If we change the current sound hygiene for rawer distortions, we can recall old songs like “Nostalgia” that’s part of 2006’s album “Nostalgia – Fragments Of A Broken Past”. At the end, you’ll feel that Nocturnal Depression only wanted to get a more modern and cleaner sound without betraying their darkest canvas and thoughts. I’m not sure if the hardcore fans will embrace this not so extreme changing, but “Spleen Black Metal” is indeed a very nice record.

Originally written at www.againstmagazine.com