Nokturnal Mortum [Ukraine]
The Voice of Steel
2009
Full Length
Oriana Music
Black Metal
With the rapid shambolic decline of the initial promise that Eluveitie offered us from their groundbreaking “Slaina” album to the lackluster release of “Everything Remains as It Never Was”, it was regrettable to say that my faith in the genre of Viking/folk metal has since gone progressively jaded.
In this specialized genre, success treads itself precariously on a thin line, and often, bands either try too hard hence risking a cheesy and tedious sound that wouldn’t sustain more than 3 songs, even if you are an optimistic listener.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover a sorely underrated band from the exotic land of Ukraine going by the name of “Nokturnal Mortum” and chancing upon their 2009 opus called “The Voice of Steel” (Голос Сталі).
From the introduction track which invokes a maddeningly morose ambience that sounded menacing yet aggressive will set the tone for the entire album perfectly. Exploded to the title track of the album, their thick melodic guitarwork blended beautifully with Varggoth’s estranged screams and tastefully done dosages of assorted folk instruments.
The album continued itself in an undulating succession of impossible moments of sheer heart-stopping epic gloriously intense uncompromising Slavonic pagan folk metal peppered with quality quantities of good old black metal. A notable mention was the song – “Valkyrie” (ВАЛЬКИРИЯ)
Just as you thought you could take a breather from that blistering near-11 minute magnum opus, Nokturnal Mortum blasted to “Ukraine” (УКРАЇНА). A real tear jerker, in my personal opinion, seeing how aggressiveness can so beautifully done even with clean vocals.
The second magnum opus of the album “My Dream Islands” (МОЄЇ МРІЇ ОСТРОВИ), lasting almost a mighty duration 12 minutes, provides ample memorable moments with their purposeful usage of synthesiser effects.
The penultimate track of this perfect album – “Sky of Saddened Nights” (НЕБО СУМНИХ НОЧЕЙ) finally gave the listener a moment of respite from the chaotic beauty by offering a track could rivals the majestic tranquillity akin to that of Kitaro’s (although I do know that is not a common comparison one could normally make with metal music).
The album ends with another magnum opus – “White Tower” (БШЛА ВЕЖА), proving to hardened skeptics that the possibility of a perfect album isn’t merely a possibility but a reality.
I was taken aback by how effortless and quickly I was subconsciously drawn into the “Nokturnal Mortum” soundscape; I found myself smiling, invigorated as I headbanged with new found zeal in front of my CD player.
My faith has been restored.
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Recommended for listeners of:
Bathory, Falkenbach, Drudkh, Eluveitie, Wolves in the Throne Room, Moonsorrow.
Nokturnal Mortum on the internet:
Official website
MySpace
ReverbNation
YouTube
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