The Noctambulant is a First-Class Slab of Modern Black Metal!

Posted By: Rick JammPosted date: October 23, 2013in: ReviewsNo Comments

The Noctambulant is the creation of two musicians from the Jacksonville music scene. Eddie Death is the guitarist and singer of the group. He writes the lyrics for 90% of the songs and brings the soaring melody lines to the group’s music. D. Franseth, is the drummer. He brings the thrash to the group with blast beats and quick tempo songs. John Hoarfrost on Guitar and Lars G. on bass bring the solid thunderous foundation which allows the drums and vocals to blend and create the unique sound of The Noctambulant. The name of the band, means night walker, a fitting title for a musical group steeped heavily in the darker side of metal.

The Noctambulant Ep, featuring the tracks “Dreams of Rotten Silence”, “Evil Calling” and “Accept or Burn”, will blow your head clean off. The music is hard as hell and sung with passion! In places it feels old school no doubt, but it reeks of the modern orchestrated metal too!

This is a crushing Ep from start to finish, the potent sculpting of the songs erupts out of the speakers at maximum power and by the time you reach track 3, you are aware that you are not listening to just another faceless black metal act.

The Noctambulant is a first-class slab of modern black metal. In a musical climate where both death and dark metal is being heavily associated with keyboards and clean vocals, this band is keeping the true essence of this genre well and truly alive, without sacrificing progression. That is without a doubt an achievement few can lay claim to.

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Thickly layered, punishing sounds, monstrous grooves, symphonic chords and seething vocals. The Noctambulant doesn’t have to rely on overt displays of technicality like hyperactive time changes or weird polyrhythms – they take a more simplified approach with their song structures, each part a sonic bludgeon of sheer power. That’s not to say there aren’t incredible displays of technical ability by all, but that’s not the sole reason for the existence of these songs. Each has its own theme, its own identity, and its own place within the overall flow of the Ep.

The Noctambulant is a synthesis of the two, essentially black metal with death metal overtones. The closest comparisons are Morbid Angel, Dark Funeral and Watain, but that is really weak comparisons at best. Anyone who likes death or black metal should own a copy of this. True dark metal fans, will fully appreciate this piece of work, while others not familiar with the band will only be left baffled and plainly confused, and possibly in a state of shock, by the sheer power and epic darkness of the music. The Noctambulant will shake the earth around you.