Nocturnis are a black metal band from Germany, formed in 2019. Today, I’m going to write about their album Drangsal, which is due for release on 6 November via Fetzner Death Records, in digital, CD, cassette and vinyl formats. Since their formation, the band have released an EP entitled Aporia in 2020 and a debut album, Unsegen, in 2022. To be honest, I’ve never listened to any of their previous releases. So, my first experience of the band came through this second album.
Drangsal is an album that establishes a ceremonial and oppressive atmosphere right from the first track, Liturgie. The album progresses through a complex structure, blending heavy passages with unexpected accelerations supported by blast beats. A sense of melancholy persists throughout several passages, such as at the end of the track Thaumaturg. The German band also offers some respite with tracks such as Der letzte Hort and Dämmernis, which begin with an acoustic introduction before shifting into a frantic rhythm.
The guitars move along to heavy, hypnotic mid-tempo rhythms. The tracks feature striking melodies as well as sharp solos, such as the one on Thaumaturg from 1:16 onwards. The bass makes its presence felt throughout the album and creates a heavy, dense atmosphere. The drums maintain the rhythm and add intensity with rapid, hellish blast beats, which are particularly striking on Dämmernis. The production is dense and clean, showcasing the atmospheres created by the band.
The vocals are shrill and high-pitched, taking on a more terrifying form in several passages. One of the most remarkable examples can be heard on Dämmernis, from 2:47 onwards. But I think the best vocal performance is on Der letzte Hort, from 6:16 onwards, where the vocals take the form of shrill screams that last for several seconds. They blend perfectly with the atmosphere in the background. And on Drangsal, the vocals are incredibly intense and show no respite for several minutes. This is undoubtedly the highlight of the vocal performance.
Among the moments and tracks I enjoyed was the atmosphere that builds from 2:48 onwards on Tituba, which gives the impression of witnessing a ceremony. I really enjoyed Düsternis, which creates a menacing atmosphere before evolving into a heavy, relentless avalanche of sound. Der letzte Hort has it all, a progressive and complex composition, ferocious instrumentation and vocals, as well as a nuanced structure that takes the listener on a journey between aggression and calm, sombre moments. As for the track Drangsal, it is an absolute masterpiece that brings the album to a close. In my opinion, it defines Nocturnis’s sonic identity, a blend of melancholy, charged atmospheres, black metal aggression, hypnotic passages and epic vocals in the second half of the track. It’s my favourite track on the album.
Drangsal will not only be my album of the month, but also one of the best releases of the year. The album will undoubtedly feature in my top 10 of the year. Nocturnis have opted for atmospheric black metal, with hypnotic compositions and striking melodies, all set against a dark backdrop. An album I’ll be talking about again soon.
 |
| More Rating Here |
Check out the album on Fetzner Death Records - Website or on theBandcamp below