Unicursal

The newest Nocturnus AD album "Unicursal" is only their second one, taking into account all the complexities of the band's history. This opus turns out to be almost wild and nervous compared to the previous album "Paradox", and you won't get here any semblance of "epicness", as it was before. Seriously, "Paradox" was a more measured work, while nothing works for stability on "Unicursal": the riffs change as if Nocturnus AD suddenly remember something and spring to the attack; riffing often contains sharp and shattering notes; only the keyboards soften the gusts of the dominant jerky rhythm. Nevertheless, although most of the riffage is composed weirdly, it is interesting to listen to the new album, it's kind of like watching Formula 1 racing.

Of course, you can hear echoes of "The Key" here, and not only thanks to Mike Browning's signature "ragged" vocals with his staccato shouted words. As a consequence of over-excitement we have practically no catchy and haunting tunes, no such "hits" as 'Neolithic' or 'Andromeda Strain' from "The Key". It looks like melodicism is hampered by the fact that the palm-muting technique is used here extensively, for example, 'CephaloGod' is built almost entirely on palm-muted riffs. Fortunately almost every song has a synth introduction, each time with a different emotional and technical mood. Only 'Mesolithic' starts off with a tribal drum pattern, and it is perhaps the craziest song on the whole album. "Unicursal" seems to be drawn-out, really too long, and this hinders the understanding of its originality.

Metalegion # 15