Kev Rowland Back after some seven years since their last album (2007’s ‘Fields of Rot’), these Norwegians show no sign at all of slowing down. Featuring present and past members of Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Aeternus, and Gehenna, original guitarist I.Maztor has returned and joined forces with new member V.Fineideath (guitars). Somethiung that is going to get many metalheads interested is the guest appearance by Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone) on vocals (“Krigshisser D.N.K”) and backing vocals (“Speedkrieg”, “The Bitch Of Buchenwald” and “Thrashiac”) while A.E. Rattlehead (Crest Of Darkness/ex-Nocturnal Breed) also helps out on solo guitar (“Thrashiac” and “Under The Whip”). This is only their fifth album since 1997, and one wonders what might have happened with these guys if the output had been a little more prolific as this is really very good indeed.

While their basis in in thrash, with some black metal elements, there is plenty of rock ‘n’ roll at their core which means that at times they come across as being heavily influenced by Motorhead. The production is strangely thin, and I wonder if that was deliberate to give a sense of the underground but for me it doesn’t do them any favours and is the one thing that lets the album down as even playing at extreme volume there is a feeling that the bottom end just isn’t there. That aside, there is a great deal here to enjoy and lets hope that the appearance of Nocturno will get more people listening as this is definitely worth discovering. www.agoniarecords.com

Time Signature Speedkrieg...

Genre: blackened thrash metal

Veterans of the Norwegian scene, Nocturnal are known for their abrasive blackened thrash metal and their fondness of singing about war (and their fondness of strippers). Their most recent onslaught is "Napalm Nights".

The opening track is pretty good, combining simplistic crusty energy with crunching riffs and hysteric vocals. The aptly titled 'Speedkrieg' draws on the harsher branches of traditional heavy metal such as Venom and Motörhead and successfully captures the aggressive energy, which also applies to 'The Bitch of Buchenwald'. 'Cursed Beyond Recognition' is slightly more amorphous (by blackened thrash metal standards that is) and is, for my money, the weakest track of the album along with 'Krigshisser'. In contrast, the title track, which is a midtempo thrasher, is the strongest track and also stands out by being the most complex track on the album (and obviously the longest). Nocturnal Breed successfully combine thrash metal and high octane rock 'n' roll, and they capture many of those elements that make down and dirty thrash metal so enjoyable to listen to.

The production is deliberately (I think) thin, which gives the album a touch of both underground authority and old school thrash metal harshness. But if yo expect the musicianship on this album to be questionable and the performance to be sloppy, you will be proven wrong. Nocturnal Breed deliver their music very tightly, and the guitar solos in particular reflect aptness and great skill. I think that the vocals are a bit over the top, at times seeming to emulate Lemmy's gruff style and at other times

As with much blackened thrash metal, the music on this album is abrasive, and the band's flirtation with WWII imagery and Nazi references may be too scary to some listeners. However, if you like blackened thrash metal, then you are guarantied to enjoy this album and the nasty thrash metal it throws at you.

Fans of Venom, Motörhead, and Hellhammer - and possibly early Slayer - should definitely check out this thrashfest.