As most of you may know, this past Saturday was Record Store Day, an industry holiday created to boost sales for independent record stores by releasing limited exclusive records to physical shops across the world. I took part in Record Store Day, and here’s what I was able to come up with.
Earlier this week we reported that Nachtmystium have perhaps called it quits, as evidenced by their “somewhat of a hiatus” and the disappearance of their Facebook page. As it turns out, we were all a bit trigger-happy with the news. Nachtmystium haven’t actually broken up, and in fact have an album planned for this year.
Ever since I first heard Nachtmystium‘s Assassins: Black Meddle Part I, I considered myself a bit of a passing fan and enjoyed each of their albums since. Their blend of black metal with psychedelic and industrial flourishes made them an interesting listen. With this in mind, I was at first a bit surprised when browsing No Clean Singing this morning to find out that the band have apparently disbanded.
There’s a template to starting a metal band. It’s not set in stone, but when it comes down it, that core combination of guitar, bass, drums and vocals have given some of the greatest metal even known so it’s no wonder that 90% of bands fall back that format. It’s tried and tested, it ain’t broke and it doesn’t really need fixing and it’s probably even fair to assume that many future classics will continue to revolve around those same basic ingredients.
Thankfully though, there’s also a considerable number of bands more interested in blurring the lines and adding their own twist to the standard line-up. It’s not a new idea, hell even Black Sabbath‘s debut contained a harmonica solo — not really a huge leap from their blues background but looking back on it today it definitely seems out of the ordinary. Worth nothing as well that with the advent of cheaper and cheaper electrical equipment, the keyboard was embraced quite quickly, no surprise really when a lot of those original ‘proto-metal’ bands made similar use of the organ but it still hasn’t quite made the leap from ‘optional’ to ‘necessary’ yet.
Relevant section occurs at 3:05.
Nachtmystium01. Dawn Over the Ruins of Jerusalem
02. Silencing Machine
03. And I Control You
04. The Lepers of Destitution
05. Borrowed Hope and Broken Dreams
06. I Wait In Hell
07. Decimation, Annihilation
08. Reduced to Ashes
09. Give Me the Grave
10. These Rooms in Which We Weep
Nachtmystium are arguably at the forefront of the North American black metal scene, and they’re there for good reason. They challenged the genre in their own way with their appropriately titled two-part Black Meddle album series that infused raw black metal with poppy melodies and industrial grooves to create an intoxicating blend of psychedelic black metal that was equal parts challenging and accessible, providing a great gateway for many to the genre. After their bout of experimentation, the band felt it necessary to pull in the reigns a bit and strip back their sound for something a little more traditional in their latest effort, Silencing Machine.
I’ve been looking forward to Nachtmystium’s Silencing Machine for a while, but even though I got the promo for it recently, I’ve been too busy to listen. Ain’t that some shit? Maybe you folks can beat me to it by heading on over to Spin (of all places) and give this record a listen. If you like your black metal in the realm of psychedelia with filthy groove and odd synths, this is for you. Here’s a taste of the record to whet your appetite:
Silencing Machine is out July 31st on Century Media Records.
- JR
I’m not always excited over black metal, but Nachtmystium delivers. I seem to enjoy just about any band with a dedicated electronics/synth section that doesn’t involve crabcore, so when you put synth over black metal, I have a good time. As much can be said of the new Nachtmystium track ‘Decimation, Annihilation,” which is streaming over at The AV Club.Super catchy stuff, and it’s not just tremolo picking and distant screams; there’s a twist of industrial groove that makes this song really come alive.
Another track down, another reason to get excited for Silencing Machine, which is due out July 31st on Century Media Records.
- JR
Black metal oddities Nachtmystium have a new album approaching, and I’m getting stoked on it; after all, they’re the catchiest of blackened jams. A new song hit the internet a week or two ago, and now we’re treated to yet another new track from the album, titled “Borrowed Hope And Broken Dreams.” You can catch it streaming at Visions.de.
How many times do I have to keep harping on about this band? They’re the perfect introduction to a genre, and even those who dislike black metal will find plenty to love in their discography. Check out Silencing Machine when it drops July 31st on Century Media Records.
- JR
While I mentioned yesterday that Nachtmystium are a great introduction to black metal because of their almost avant-garde flair and penchant for poppy hooks and danceable beats, it looks like their forthcoming LP Silencing Machine will be more stripped-back into the realm of black metal. Fret not though! If the title track is any indication, they’re still holding on to some industrial influence (the album’s name is a Nine Inch Nails reference!) and the track is still ridiculously catchy for black metal. Pitchfork has the stream and an interview with Blake Judd, so click through to give a spin and a read.
Silencing Machine is due out July 31st on Century Media Records.
- JR
For anyone wanting to get into black metal, Nachtmystium are an excellent starting point. They’re not strictly black metal, as they draw from a wide array of influences from the catchiest hard rock and industrial. Get your feet wet, so to speak, with their previous record Addicts: Black Meddle Part II while you wait for Silencing Machine to come out next month.
Silencing Machine is due out July 31st, and that very night, the band will be doing a release show in at Reggie’s Rock Club, Chicago, IL where the first 100 people through the door receive a special Nachtmystium giveaway from Century Media Records. Awesome! Make it out if you can.
- JR
