Customer Reviews

Instinct: Decay

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best USBM albums I've heard in some time. It's very spacey, and heavily distorted, yet recalls a bit of the magic of classics like Pure Holocaust and In The Nightside Eclipse. Nachtmystium's bittersweet melodies twist like barbed wire into a black metal kalleidoscope of emotions. While melody is typically maintained by fast arpeggios, structural intricacies writhe beneath simple tonal patterns, reflecting a frustrated artist searching his soul to create something great. What this band creates is space. No sound travels its full destination without being met with an ambient shrill or reverberation, creating almost a virtual landscape that shudders like a cold introvert between Burzum-esque minimalism and grinding sludge, peppered with sobbing, distorted psyche-rock guitars. Nachtmystium lifts an atmosphere with simple musical techniques, and allows it to soar exhuberantly over black metal conventions, while kicking up foul life below to breathe in for a "sound." The vocalist is sufficiently passionate, although unassuming. I think I heard him hit a neat falsetto once, but his scream is so muddled in the production it doesn't matter much.

Nachtmystium casts aside phrases like "simplicity" and "progression" to define their music, and play with assertive individuality. They really only lack a concrete sense of theme. Lots of wandering dissonant phrases that segue between cosmic, strategic black metal, and riffs that could easily be NWOBHM. But, what could otherwise be seen as a cheesy collage of influences is actually strung together in irreputable coherance before being drowned out in seething, droning distortion. Nachmystium departs before introducing itself, leaving a very subliminal impression.

Nachtmystium did wonderfully in breaking outside the typical black metal sound. This album is an exceptional journey. It slows down and speeds up, has guitar solos! remains heavy as hell, but makes me admire them a lot for not remaining confined in a box, rather integrating different techniques...

"Instinct: Decay" was probably my favorite releases of 2006, every minute of this album is brilliant! Nachtmystium really redefined their sound and found their own unique sound.

Lo-fi primordial Norwegian black metal buzz curred with weed smoke and loaded with psilocybin. Songs mellifluously transforming from thrashy, harsh riffs into gloriously reverb-soaked metallic crescendos. This is black metal psychedelic art.

For fans of everything from Pink Floyd to Darkthrone. So good!

Probably there best album to date! I can't say I liked the black meddle albums; it seems there new stuff is starting to lack in the melody and creativity they use to have. The music on this album is reminiscent of Xasther and Leviathan but with a touch of melody that just can't be described as anything other than hippy black metal. But don't let that deter you from checking this album out! By far it's got to be one of the best black metal albums today!

During the earlier stages of their career, Nachtmystium appeared to be pretty busy causing a buzz within the music world. Between splits with big names such as Xasthur and Krieg and full-length albums, Nachtmystium really began to make a name for themselves, not only in the underground black metal world, but also in the black metal community as a whole. It wasn't until Eulogy, though, that the band really seemed to come into their own with the experimentation of psychedelic melodies over some signature black metal pieces that remained almost unfathomably harsh in production. Although raw in essence, this album hit a big mark with black metal fans alike.

Fast forward a little while later, and we are introduced with "Instinct: Decay", an album filled with delicate experimental melodies throughly soaked in ethereal atmospheres, and smeared over raw black metal. Sound a bit unusual? It did to me at first too- but once I worked up enough courage to dispel the fear of wasting my money on another mediocre CD, I went out to the store and finally purchased it. Not only was I amazed, but after almost 7 months now, this album still holds its position as one of my favorite black metal albums out there. Nachtmystium has found a way to be experimentalists without sacrificing their harsh black metal sound. There is absolutely no hint of commercialism here, yet somehow this album puts out melodies the listener can sing along to! It's as if the minute the headphones touch your ears, you are launched into a world of seductive vibrations and unearthly harmonizes, while still being able to recognize the harshness of the black metal elements. It's a truly riveting experience and I'm sure it is not accessible on any other black metal album, for Nachtmystium has created something here that is completely unique and undefined. They have set a totally new standard for black metal fans and all other black metal acts out there today.

Overall, this CD would be an excellent purchase choice, especially if you are new to Nachtmystium. This band even releases their music on vinyl, so if you enjoy listening to your music the old-fashioned way, this would be the perfect choice. I guarantee that any fan of black metal, or even anyone who possesses an open mind toward different musics, will take to this CD. It's a journey like no other.

This album is amazing. Nachtmystium has changed drastically from their first release, but they changed for the better. This album has a very dark sound. You won't get any kult ov Azazel or Sumeria in this album. Instead it has more of a Demoncy sound with a lot more melody. The production is very haunting. It really makes the melodic parts of the album sound that much more depressing. This album is fantastic. Buy it before Nachtmystium give up on black metal.

Lo-fi DARKTHRONE worship is the order of the day here for this one-man black metal project (from the US), but it's occasionally woven through with melodic leads and solos, a la TIAMAT or PINK FLOYD, and even a touch of AGALLOCH acoustics here and there. Next time though, less dark ambient soundscapes, especially since they're all more or less interchangeable.