Customer Reviews

Nocturnal

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This release is just what you'd expect from one of America's best Death Metal bands, with lightning fast guitars, dual-vocals, and killer riffs. I was a little unsure about the packaging concept with album, though. With bands out there like Behemoth and Gorgoroth, who take themselves and their "evilness" so seriously that they can be downright comical at times, I was somewhat surprised by Nocturnal's Black Metal look. While it looks pretty cool, I'm somewhat suspicious of its sincerity.

While a little predictable in my opinion, this album far from disappoints. Darkness Spawned simply crushes, while seemingly speeding by without giving you a chance to breath. The surprise track is To Breathless Oblivion, with its epic scope and sweeping guitar lines. Black Dahlia has a bad habit of holding all their cords for the same amount of time on every song, while the cords on this song are held longer giving it a more epic feel. It also has the best lead on the album. For these reasons, this track stands head and shoulders above the rest of the album. I think Nocturnal would have flowed a little better had this track been the closer instead of Warborn, which is somewhat overshadowed by To Breathless Oblivion, despite its unique 3/4 section towards the end. However, there is much here that needs multiple listens to fully digest - another excellent trait of this band. The production on this album is an improvement over Miasma in the same proportion as Miasma was over Unhallowed, and the tone of Nocturnal is darker than both - a big improvement in my book.

While the packaging art is certainly a "new" step for Black Dahlia, Nocturnal really doesn't deviate much from Miasma. Judging from the fact that there seems to be a new Black Dahlia clone every week, I can't really blame them for sticking to their guns. But for my money, I'd like to see Black Dahlia take a chance with their forth album. With two excellent releases in their discography, this album is a little safe for my taste.

Black Dahlia Murder is a near unstoppable force plain and simple. this album shows the strong progression they've made from their early days. Combining the best Unhallowed and Miasma had to conjure up this little bit. The whole album clocks in around 34 mins, though it feels considerably longer, in a very good way. The whole band brings top notch work to play, drums enhance the atmosphere, the guitar work is damn fine, bass deserves a tip of that hat, and Trevor brings his best as well. More aggressive than the previous releases, but also very powerful in mood. Bought it the first day it released and I'm glad i did.

The Black Dahlia Murder (TBDM) keep upping the ante in the realm of melodically influenced death metal with their most recent release: 'Nocturnal'. First, I was curious after listening to 'Unhallowed', then I was a sure fire fan after 'Miasma', and now I am wondering how these guys keep churing out the best american death metal yet! With the addition of drummer Shannon Lucas, they are in synch like never before. Brian Eschbach(sp?)pretty much wrote the whole thing and it is damn near a masterpiece. John Kempanien's (sp?) lead work is once again OUTSTANDING. Ryan Williams' bass is on time and flawless... oh yeah and you can actually hear the bass guitar on this record! And Trevor Strnad has returned to his thematic horror narrative, weaving a tapestry of black gore and fear throughout every track. Whereas 'Miasma' had some of the same lyrical content as 'Unhallowed' save for a few songs about partying (i'm charming, vice campaign, Miasma etc..), 'Nocturnal' is a clear journey back to their roots on the 'Unhallowed' record. One thing I have noticed on every record from TBDM is that the members of the band aren't bound to one another musically. Each one of then plays independently from one another. You hear bassist Williams playing something besides the same riffs as the rhythm guitar, but he still stays locked in with drummer Lucas. And in case you haven't looked in your CD booklet, there is only one lead singer in TBDM. All of the vocals on this record are done by Strnad. Live, Rhythm guitarist Eschbach fills in some. But an amazing talent to switch from the 'Growl' of death metal, to more of an 'At the Gates' style scream. One last thing: no filler songs on this record, which is great. My picks for fave tracks: 'Warborn', 'What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse', 'Deathmask Divine' um... naw... the whole album is awesome, no need for fave tracks. If you get a chance to see them live, do so. Awesome show. No posturing, just five guys ripping the stage and having fun.

Length:: 1:05 Mins

This band is just simply awesome. The Black Dahlia Murder are without question one of the finest melodic death metal bands out here in the United States today. "Nocturnal" is without question their most brutal, evil, gory, and their best album thus far, and it's also one of the best death metal albums of 2007 as well. I enjoyed BDM's previous effort from 2005 "Miasma" alot too, but this album blows that one right out of the water. One of the best things about "Nocturnal" is that also possesses more black metal influences than on "Miamsa". The lyrics on here are very evil and gory, and the musicianship is absolutely top-notch. Trevor Strnad's vocals are just excellent on here. He can alternate from beastly, gutteral, inhuman death growls and bellows and evil nightmarish high pitched black metal-esque shrieks that will summon up the devil in you. John Kempainen and Brian Eschbach are both excellent guitarists and they make quite the duo. The riffs are just blistering and bone crunching, and the leads and solos by John (who plays lead guitar BTW) are very technical, ripping, and nicely clean and restrained. Shannon Lucas's drumming is just manaical, slamming, and pummeling throughout with exploding, splattering, perfectly executed blastbeats and wicked double bass slamming. Every song on this album is just great, I love every single song on here. The first track "Everything Went Black" is a great opening track that will immediately get your blood pumping with it's fiery, thrashing riffs, blasting drumwork and demonic vocals. The guitar solo around the 1:44 mark is awesome as well. The second track "What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse" is another favorite on here that is highlighted by heavy, booming, thundering riffs that will just crush your bones into dust along with more fast pummeling drum blasts. The title track "Nocturnal" is my personal favorite on here that features pounding, splattering drum blasts and wicked double bass slamming, careening leads, a catchy growl/scream chorus, and a great headbanging solo. Other favorites include "I Worship Only What You Bleed", "Deathmask Divine", "Of Darkness Spawned" (which is highlighted by more fast, pounding double bass drumwork, beastly growls, wild thrashing riffs, a fast, melodic careening solo, and an awesome mosh pit shout/scream part of "The time to rise is upon us"), "Cimatic Degredation" (higlighted by more fast, shredding riffs, another great ripping solo and more murderous double bass onslaughts) and "To a Breathless Oblivion" (which features two great guitar solos along with more slamming double bass drum onslaughts, and evil demonic growls and shrieks, and there's even some nice accoustic strings near the end). Please read on for the song ratings.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Everything Went Black (3:17) - 5/5
2. What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse (3:50) - 5/5
3. Virally Yours (3:02) - 5/5
4. I Worship Only What You Bleed (1:59) - 5/5
5. Nocturnal (3:12) - 5/5
6. Deathmask Divine (3:37) - 5/5
7. Of Darkness Spawned (3:22) - 5/5
8. Climatic Degradation (2:39) - 5/5
9. To a Breathless Oblivion (4:57) - 5/5
10. Warborn (4:40) - 5/5

Overall Verdict: This album is an absolute must-have for any Black Dahlia Murder fan, and that also goes to anyone who's into some great death metal, melodic death metal, extreme metal, and yes even some black metal fans will enjoy this as well. So do yoursef a favor, go out and buy this album ASAP!! ALL HAIL BDM!!

I saw the Black Dahlia Murder live with The Red Chord a few months ago. The show was completely sick, they tore the place apart. Because of that, I decided to buy this album. I love the music on this album, and you can definately tell these guys are talented. The only negative thing I have to say about the album is that it is somewhat short. I can listen to the entire album on a short drive and I just wish there were more tracks. Regardless, this Album is a must-buy for all metalheads.

A little more polished, a few "cathcy-er" riffs and the best mix and mastering quality to date. I rocked this on the way to work to day and said to myself "Jeremy, this cd is AWESOME" and then I wanted to punch somebody.....hard! Seriously, worth the buy.

First off. I loved Unhallowed, I thought that was a great metal album. It was just pretty straight up quasi-death metal. Unfortunately I did not like Miasma for the exception of the title track. I felt that it just was not very metal. I felt like they wrote this album as if they were a hardcore band looking for some laughs. Similarly the music was just kind of chugging along and nothing really stood out.

Then came Nocturnal. Right from the get go this album has some amazingly diverse riffs. The only song I do not care for is Virally Yours. I feel this could have been on miasma because it is not too original and just kind of chugs along. Nocturnal and To a Breathless Oblivion are my two favorite tracks.

Alot of fanboys are getting pissed off because the album is too "metal". like 'oh god they are acting like behemoth or something ahhh pentagrams and songs about zombies and killing'. well for those true metal fans such as myself, this is a bonus and is what made me give BDM a second chance in the first place. Each song is truly metal and offers something original.

As for the song presentation itself. It is truly great. They really put forth a good effort on this album. Just listen to To a Breathless Oblivion and you will know what I am talking about. So Thank you BDM for this great album. Just 4 stars because i felt it was a little short. The album is kind of over before you know it. But that doesn't change the fact that the music and the vibe is incredible.

An explosion of blast beats, shredding guitars, hellish shrieks and guttural bellows attack you in a catastrophic ambush. The vocalist(Trevor Strnad)really plays off the riffs of the guitar and the rhythm of the drums, complimenting eachother at just the right moment.So what's new from the Black Dahlia Murder you ask? Top Notch production which creates an ambiance of precise destruction(Listen to the sound quality of "Unhallowed" then listen to this one, it really is "Before and After"). Set your adjustments(bass,treble etc.) correctly on your stereo/computer/car, and you will be blown away by the whole album. Enjoi.
Standout Tracks: "What a Horrible Night To Have a Curse"-"I Worship Only What You Bleed"-"Nocturnal"-"Warborn"...but like I said, the whole album's insane.

This cd might be the best of 07 argueably. I love this band and everything they represent. each cd is a perfect 10. They are the only band that I will listen to constently and never get bored of. saying that this cd is close to Miasma in the brutality section and death metal riffs. The step they did take away from miasma is the darker sound and its more melodic which i love. Not sure which cd i like better between miasma and nocturnal(they are better than unhallowed which is also a 10 so that must make them like a 12 or 13) BDM is on another level. favorite track deathmask devine