Nox Intempesta - Damnanus - Dominum
Review: From the school of Emperor-styled vaulted melodies meshing into a stream of changing panoramic narrative that, by shifting its layers to change background contexture, maintains a solid sense of harmony against its own internal melodic tendencies, Nox Intempesta make often highspeed resonant melodic black metal of limblike extrusions through phrases connecting different kaleidoscopic views of the same essential motif cycled in tone. Dedication to the rawness in noise of this style also frees this band to create without impediments of aesthetic designed for social accessibility.
Rhythmically centered and in a moment, raw and minimal, yet escalating to a stage of multitiered counterpoint between blinding fast riffs and their slower counterparts which unveil the harmonic essence to each song, the phrases used here within the rhythmic structure of riff and circular portion of song evolving as motif, as means of conduit to expression, hold and develop melody by playing its elements against one another within the pacing of song development. Roaring surges of energy subside into relaxed patterns in which interplay of internal melody strummed into precise riff structure and vocals leading a rhythm section of portentious energy develop each song through its excesses and periods of slow growth and consideration.
Instrumentalism is excellent but understated in support of the integration of different threads of structural development through a narrative unfolding across themes, accompanied by an aesthetic of black metal which has developed to the stage of intricate changes in shape of phrase manipulating mood through changes in texture and resonance harmonic phenomena building up through the life of the evolution of a phrase. Occultist themes as versed in German form the basis of concept on this release, effecting mostly degree of mood and immersion in darkness and obscurity as viable elements of song.
Long riff developments end in phrases open to harmonic conclusion within a sensibility of dissonance and a degenerate cyclic thrust toward self-conclusion in resonance with nothingness or a chromatic, slamming conclusion: underpinnings of death metal structuralism emerge inside the context of evolving melodic texture in shifting layers carrying melodic continuity in multiple potential voices through sweeping strum and adept, alertly shifting structure with an interest in chaos recombined to clarity.
For its vision and pervasive mood, this album is unsurpassed and Nox Intempesta remains one of the few bands besides Summoning who can weave illustration of life in complexity and breadth through narrow adventures in darkness and the churning primordial pool of gestures that resemble the formidable riffing on this album. In resolution: it is the gleeful spirit of death.