DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT — Necrovision (review)

DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT — Necrovision album cover

Album · 2013 · Black Metal

4/5 · 2013-04-02
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Necrovision is the fifth full-length album to be released by German black metal act Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult. Released in 2013 this is the first major effort from the group in several years, the last being Saldorian Spell in 2009, although the band did do a split in 2011 with their fellow Germans Purgatory.

Necrovision is a definite case of a band doing what they do best without stepping out of their comfort zone. But then why mess with what has proved a winning formula for the band? Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult are true to the original black metal template, although their music has a better production job than, let’s say, Darkthrone’s classic A Blaze in the Northern Sky, but the atmosphere of black metal is present and correct, and not dressed up with fancy thrills, although Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult does utilise some haunting elements, such as backing clean vocals in Necrocosmic Vision, or a sample of music which at a guess dates around the 1940’s – 1950’s at the end of Upon My Arrival and of course the opening intro track Aura, which is more of an ambient piece.

As an interesting note for those who are not familiar with the band, although you may not realise it to listen to them, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult is actually a female fronted act, and their frontwoman Onielar deserves a special mention for her growl, which gives the atmosphere of the album a bit of extra venom. It no doubt also helps the conviction of the album that Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult are one of the black metal bands that take their beliefs, which mostly revolve around the occult, and thus their lyrics, seriously.

Although tracks like In the Hue of Night and Upon My Arrival quickly stand out as album highlights, it’s the closing Necrocosmic Vision that takes the prize for being the very best on offer, on account of it showcasing how Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult can do some different stuff while still retaining their integrity as a black metal band. Clean male backing vocals are featured, as well as sections of light, lulling clean tones which will give you a false sense of security before the band thunders back into black metal overdrive to steal your soul.

Honestly on this album Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult isn’t doing anything that is particularly out there in terms of uniqueness, just a band playing a genre that they both clearly love and are good at doing. It’s not the strongest effort I’ve encountered from them, that distinction still goes to Hora Nocturna (2006) but it’s still a lot more satisfying come its conclusion than most other albums of its ilk. Hora Nocturna made me a fan of Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult and set the benchmark for all their other material for me, but Necrovision is a another album under their belt that convinces me that they are one of the best black metal bands going. A great album tier rating is deserved.

83/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/darkened-nocturn-slaughtercult-necrovision-t2849.html))