Customer Reviews

Nechrist

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The thing that has always appealed to me about black metal is its duality of beauty and brutality. I enjoy and am entertained by bands that express this duality through alternation -- a lyrical acoustic and/or synth piece here, a raging metallic assault there (can you say Opeth?) -- but am truly amazed and impressed by the artistry of those bands that are capable of expressing the duality through integration, creating unified pieces that are equal parts beautiful and brutal concurrently. I've never found a band capable of producing such integration across the board; it's always a release-by-release thing. In my mind the top slot of integration has always been "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" by Emperor -- that is, until I heard Nokturnal Mortum's "Nechrist." It is a truly stunning work. It has taken the top spot as masterpiece of integrated black metal.

This album is, beyond a doubt, comparable (to me, at least) to the mastery on Ulver's "Nattens Madrigal". Not one part of this album is sloppily put together. The atmosphere, and use of folkish instruments is what REALLY gets me on this album. "In the Fire of the Wooden Churches" really has a way with my skin, as I find myself acquiring goosebumps from listening to it. I also feel the same way about "Black Raven". Their image doesn't matter to me. It's the music that matters, and the music on this album stands out like a painting that just CLICKS. The drumming is absolutely stunning, as are the guitars, and when put side by side with the amazing keyboards and folkish instruments, this album pulls together so much. It feels COMPLETE, it feels WHOLE. I wouldn't change ANYTHING about this album. Magnificent Black Metal at it's best. The opening to Black Raven is, by far, the coolest intro to a song, by the way. The rest of the song is beautiful as well. The only problem I have with this album is that Nokturnal Mortum have now set the bar so high, even for themselves. One can only hope they can reach beyond the mountainous height of this record. Only time will tell. I shall now rock out to this album.

This is easily one of my favorite black metal releases of the past five years (has it been that long?). If you're put off by the National Socialist messages they espouse, that's your business -- go listen to Emperor or Dimmu Borgir. Just don't let your personal views interfere with your views of this album, and don't consider taking anything away from Nokturnal Mortum. They've put together an insanely brutal black metal album this time around. Even after the release of "Weltanschauung", and countless other amazing black metal albums from other bands over the past few years, this CD still finds its way to my playlist quite often.

This is the third release of a talented band. While not quite as aggressive as their second album, that isn't saying much as this band never fails to deliver music that is complex, dark, and furious.

Here we find the band intigrating even more of their Ukrainian folk roots into the music with impressive results. The refreshing thing is that these excursions into folk material with folk instruments are not simply tossed into the miss for "atmosphere" or "innovation", rather they are smoothly integrated the music and truly belong with it while not smothering any of its extremeness.

Again, the band's two keyboard players weave complex orchestrations albeit further below the mix than the whirling guitars and hateful vocals.

Any fan of good, mature black metal will appreciate this fine release.

I should say that this album too good for Ukranian group.It sounds a little bit raw but purely melodic and powerfull.All the flutes and strings gives it more charm and has nothing to do with River Dance at all.You imagine all those ancient people around the huge fire worshipping their Gods.For me,THIS album meens as much as "Anthems to the Welkin..." by Emperor and "Cruelty and the Beast" by Cradle of Filth. HAIL PAGAN GODS!HAIL NOKTURNAL MORTUM!!!

I love Nokturnal Mortum, but this cd is one of the WORST things i have ever listened to. I couldnt even sit through this entire mess more than 1 time. The second time i put it on i could only stand to listen to 20 seconds of every track.

There was no chance this could have been good, the recording is the absolute worst i have ever heard. It sounds like it was recorded from the inside of a deep dark cave. The sounds dont go together at all. It sounds like they randomly through noises all over the place to see what kind of cacophonic crap would amount from it. This cd seems more like an endurance test for your patience more than anything else.

I wouldnt let my worst enemy suffer through this cd, and i wouldnt want anybody to waste money on this. Buy any other Nokturnal Mortum but this one. I'm telling you for your own good.

Well, Nokturnal Mortum is one of those bands you either love or hate. People love them because of their uncompromising attitude and unique mix of Ukranian folk melodies and harsh black metal. People hate them because of their ridiculous politics and well, their mix of Ukranian folk melodies and black metal. Regardless of what camp you fall in, this album is worth your time for several reasons.
First, this is the album where they started to change from more a bm band to a straight up folk metal band. It really doesn't shine through until The Taste of Victory, but you can see the beginnings here. What I mean is here is whhere they started using more folk instruments , and less keys to create atmosphere. In the liner notes, there is a whole host of folk instruments given credit. Another thing is while starting to change, there are still enough bm parts to keep that crowd plenty interested. Fine exammples include Night Before the Fight and Child of Swamps and Fullmoon.

Now on to the lackluster parts. First off, the production is terrible. It sounds like it was recorded in a hole in the ground. Now I realize most people looking at this won't care, but someone that listens to CoF or Dimmu and trying something more underground might. The second thing is when the folk influnces try to lead the music, it gets really goofy sounding. Funeral Winds Born in Orianna is a fine example. The third thing is the NS stance mentioned earlier. While I realize some(most) don't care about this, it can turn some people off, and that is why it gets mentioned.
Overall, if you want a good mix of black and folk metal, I would recommend this album. If you want more black, go for To the Gates or Goat Horns, and more folk, The Taste of Victory of Weltanschauug(Mirvossrenie).

Problem with alot of other bands is that they try to go for money and come up with some catchy words, fancy covers. This is not the case here. I mean, these guys are in Ukraine and I dont think they care much of what anyone thinks. The album itself is very inspiring and brutal. If you listen to it well enough you will like it. Get it! Great cd!

The dilemma is striking with "Nechrist", and its almost upsetting that Nokturnal Mortum have wasted this brutally cold and uniquely innovative Black/Folk metal masterpiece on just the most adolescent and ridiculous subject matter like Nazism and the so- called National Socialist Black Metal scene in Europe. Grow up.

Hitler, the foolish puppet master he was, lost en-route to Russia, exactly like Napoleon did, another foolish dictator before him decimated by the Russian winter. These guys are from Russia and write in Russian! History anyone.

These types of scenes help give Socialism a worst name than it has had even in the past.

I guess this country will stick to the Monarchy we currently have in place ala Bush & Co.

Also, Hitler's ideology wasn't his own, but rightfully was given to him by an organization called the Thule society, so who was the puppet? Not worth singing about at all, and I wish this band knew that, not that I understand a word on this record, thank God.

Beyond that, the music is very atmospheric, made with mid grain production, which to some like me and others in likeable. The riffs are from thrash to blackest metal, and the breakdowns are folk to the core, other than the Mexican screeches. Oh Darling irony, they probably have no idea! Reflections of it rear ugly heads in the likeness of the darkest heart of Emperor, the coldest misanthropy of Dark throne, and the moody, looming beauty of Cradle of Filth. Truly black and majestic.

If this offends you at all, post something, but only if you can refute it. Intellectuals only need apply. And if you bought this record for the subject matter it represents, this does not apply to you. Don't hate my truth, there are plenty of other things to hate out there, like your own brothers in specie.

Never mind, just stop corrupting our children, and remember,.... a vengeful God may be watching........