The Ukrainians of Nokturnal Mortum do not disappoint and at the gates of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the band releases their new album, the emblematic and unparalleled “To Lunar Poetry” – До лунарної поезії – and according to the band:
“Old Lunar Poetry demo holds a very special place in discography of Nokturnal Mortum. On one hand the quality of the songs released on this record in 1996 gained the attention of the whole scene back then. Many fans still wonder why it is labeled only as demo, while others simply praise it as pagan black metal at its best. On other hand due to some technical aspects, mostly because of the loss of the lyrics and the absence of new keyboard arrangements, the band did not perform the fan favorites from Lunar Poetry during the last two decades.
The 25th anniversary of the demo became the most logical reason to bring the old songs back to life. To Lunar Poetry is a full-length album that contains the new versions of timeless classics from the demo that were written by the band (thus leaving in 1996 the material from other authors that was present of the demo). Beyond this, new album brings forth the renewed Return of the Vampire Lord epic initially released in 1997 on the EP of the same name and new full-force intro composition.
To Lunar Poetry marks the return of Nokturnal Mortum members from the 90’s both with fresh blood in recording line-up and the renewal of the music created in times of old with studio possibilities of today. To Lunar Poetry is a place where the past and the future of Nokturnal Mortum meet.”
With a high level symphonic Pagan Black Metal with extremely fast, melodic and well-crafted passages. The new album is a tribute to the beginnings, to the 90s, to Ukrainian ancestry. We have elements of Lunar Poetry in its intense atmosphere and strong guitars from Істина, which tells us a lot about this release, as NM shows not only a melodic evolution, but an intensity of its sonic aggressiveness. It is clearly visible traces of Goat Horns and the weight of Голос сталі.
There are clean passages of vocals, which surprised me a lot, but it only reinforces the idea that NM is embracing Pagan Black Metal with all their strength and paying tribute to their origin and the band’s early years.
Tracks like “Лунарна поезія” and “Вампірів князь прийшов” of almost 11 minutes only show that the band’s direction is to give a tireless aura to their BLACK METAL, justifying why they are at the top of the Black Metal world and be a reference ^ Ukraine’s constant presence in extreme music.
the album is easy to listen and praiseworthy, Gapon’s guitar solos and his voice just show that the band is at its peak and that Ukraine is and always will be the CENTER OF PAGAN BLACK METAL! FUCK THE REST OF THE WORLD! HAIL THE KINGS!!!!
Total fucking support to Ukraine in the War!
RATE: 666/666
