До лунарної поезії

With each year passing by, the old guard of 70s, 80s and lately 90s is becoming less and less relevant with newer releases. Lured out by the demand for new album, and, of course, regaining some relevance plus grabbing some cash while at it - they often let out some mindless, mediocre-at-best material to call it a day. "Dread Reaver" is probably the best example of late for such behavior.

And here comes Nokturnal Mortum's attempt - still in the band's mid-life, they decided to re-release an old classic of theirs - "Lunar Poetry", titling it "To Lunar Poetry", referencing it. That is most likely related to the lyrics on this album along with a few others which got lost and now were rewritten. Most re-recordings of albums tend to lean closely on the originals, because why should you change something, that already works? Luckily it's not the case here.

The first most noticeable difference between "To Lunar Poetry" and "Lunar Poetry" is a far more dramatic atmosphere. All compositions have more weight to them due to the album's production and heavier synth usage. Using synthesizers of old along with genuine dulcimer and other folk instruments was a nice touch to overall soundscape, but there's yet another thing that elevates original "Lunar Poetry" here. As the root version was thin, razor sharp and cold, the re-release bring in thicker, more powerful drums, orchestrations and just as aggressive, albeit less bright guitar tones. Downtuning the guitars gave it a massive sound, adding weight to each riff they play.

To begin with - not all songs are identical in comparison with the original record. Of course, most riffs were carried over, but some parts were reconstructed (most notably on "Autodafe"). It was a risky move that paid off, adding a breath of fresh air into the compositions. "Carpathian Mysteries" sounds marvelous with the choir chants during the first verse, bringing more might into an already stellar riff.

Now, onto the biggest advantage of this version - Knjaz Varggoth's refined vocals. I swear, his voice ages like a fine wine. Gone is the simple and generic black metal rasp, replaced for the superior, aggressive and monstrous growl with shrieking overtones. At this point, Knjaz's vocal style has become a staple part for Nokturnal Mortum's sound, proudly standing out in a line of folk/symphonic black metal bands. Thanks to that, the overall effect gives a primal, colossal wall of sonic mayhem. The most notable and varied vocal performance on the album goes to "Return of the Vampire Lord", where Varggoth adjusts his voice for a deeper, reverberating tone, then shifts to growls, just as the track picks up on finality - which, in result, creates a perfect conclusion. His performance was on top notch from the beginning until the end.

From the guitars department you can expect just the same amount of tremolo picking as in the original record. Some rhythm sections were replaced for either chugging or more tremolo picking instead of sustained power chords. Everything is kept well in tempo, accompanying precise blast beats and gnarly bass lines. Some solos which were buried before (again, hinting "Carpathian Mysteries"), are now revealed and audible.

The modern mixing of "To Lunar Poetry" served the compositions well. The drums do not sound surgical, but carry enough weight to not be buried below the guitars and bass, folk instruments are perfectly audible and clear. The vocals are placed right in front of you, going directly in your face to make sure that you know that "The vampire lord has returned!". Some people might be off put, as it's not kvlt enough, or sharp and cold as Scandinavian winter for that matter. The mix serves its purpose very well, so why would you want to ruin it?

The last question remains - how does this album stand on its own, without comparing it to the original record? It's unique, it's bold and creative - which is a shocking statement to make, taking to account, that the compositions are almost 30 years old. Its timeless melodies and atmosphere prevailed to be reforged with new ideas and modern solutions. All additions feel genuine, serve different purposes in creation of different soundscapes for each track. Thanks to that, "To Lunar Poetry" made me feel just as fascinated as when I heard "Lunar Poetry" for the first time 11 years ago.

Once the orcs are defeated and ruins left in their wake rebuilt - let's hope to hear more from Nokturnal Mortum. Slava!

Highlights: "Autodafe", "Return of the Vampire Lord", "Carpathian Mysteries".