DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT

Sometime in 1997, Onielar (vocals, guitars) and Ariovist (drums) decided to call forth a band that broke away from the new-age black metal trend and go back to the roots of Norwegian black metal. Six months later they added Velnias (guitars); although, the bass position has been vacant since day one. DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT stands for the bands own satanic and nihilistic views, along with their undying need for true black metal. The band later parted ways with Ariovist in 1999 and the bass position was still up for grabs. Since then they have recorded 2 albums with session bass and drum members. Now with a full line-up (including a full-time bassist and drummer), they have recorded their third full-length album: Nocturnal March.

With an introduction reminiscent of old Emperor albums, Gorgoroth guitar riffs, and classic black metal vocals; I'm sitting here wondering how this band hasn't gotten to be bigger than the previous mentioned bands. Fast, soul splitting, black metal done right! I hope to see more of this band in the future!

Track one Wicher Za Gorami, as previously mentioned reminds me a lot of old Emperor intros; kicking it in full force with their brutal, thrash influenced guitar riffs. It takes you on a ride down the "Norwegian black metal" memory lane. As the tracks go along, and the album comes to an end, you want to automatically go over to the CD changer and press the little button that says "repeat". It's that damn good! Now that I have heard the album, now all I want to do is see this band in live action! If this band is any better live than they are on the album, then I may just have to add them on my fave list... ohh wait... I already did! Even though corpse paint kind of died out in the mid-90s, this band is well fitted to the traditional Black Metal attire: corpse paint, leather, spikes, more leather, and pointy, deadly objects with random skulls on the end of some other random pointy object. And they actually don't look dumb doing it! This is going to be one of those bands I keep close watch on! Keep rockin'!