Black metal pushed past its boundaries
It seems that more and more black metal bands are feeling the need to break the mold by incorporating influences from outside their comfort zone. One such example is Nachmystium’s attempt to create “psychedelic” black metal. The very title of their latest offering, Assassins: Black Meddle pt. 1, is an obvious reference to Pink Floyd’s Meddle, and Assassin’s first track, “One of These Nights,” offers a darker take of Meddle’s classic opener “One of These Days.” From there, the album attempts to link a Floydian atmosphere to a metal framework.
The resulting sound is hard to nail down. Traces of black metal resound throughout the album, but the overall sound is much broader, and at times unexpected. The chorus to “Assassins,” for instance, brings to mind bands like Ensiferum, with a melodic screaming style and upbeat chord progression. The psychedelic influences creep in on the album’s instrumental tracks, which are more abstract and spaced out, although many of the heavier tracks do have a trippy edge. For example, standout track “Ghosts of Grace” shows just how well reverb-drenched lead guitars can work within an otherwise metal environment.
Assassins… is certainly not an album for the purists. In order to achieve their sound, Nactmystium become much more accessible, an attribute which many metalheads are reluctant to accept. Even for the open-minded, there are still a few flaws with the album. Some of the instrumental tracks aren’t very engaging, and the vocal delivery on some of the heavier tracks can become monotonous. There are a few excellent tracks, such as the previously mentioned “Ghosts of Grace” and the three-part “Seasick,” but not all of the album reaches these heights. Nevertheless, Assassins… is an interesting experience and definitely recommended for those who want to hear what new directions black metal can expand to.
| Reviewer: Josh Coppola Added: July 22nd 2008 |
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