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Full Review | User Ratings (160) |
| Summary: Nocturnal takes everything that makes The Black Dahlia Murder unique and interesting and multiplies it by four. Even if everything sounds similar, it is good enough to warrant more than it's fair share of attention. Solid album. |
8 of 8 thought this review was well written
A band's third album can be a difficult one. Their first may have been the one that garnered them all that lovely attention and positive acclaim. Then, their sophomore effort may have been the slump that many had predicted - or maybe it would have signaled a move away from their roots, causing the inevitable label of 'sell-out' to come about. Luckily for The Black Dahlia Murder, neither of these scenarios need apply. Both their debut and sophomore albums were very good, displaying their signature blend of frenetic melodic death metal aptly well. Nocturnal certainly is a worthy addition to the band's discography, even if it doesn't seemingly do anything to steer them into any new progressions.
Not to say the band have regressed however. And it would also be a lie to say that they have remained completely stagnant. What has to be said is that all the trademarks of the band are here in full force; Trevor Strnad's schizophrenic vocal style is as prominent as ever, with his banshee-esque howling and shrieking almost blood curdling this time around. His lows have also improved, sounding more guttural under the better production. The fast breakneck speed of the band is also evident in pretty much all ten of the tracks on offer here; new drummer Shannon Lucas is more than capable of pulling off all the double bass, blastbeats and quick fills and rolls that made their previous outings enjoyable from a drumming perspective. The guitar riffs are quick and melodic when they need to be and heavy, chugging and menacing at other times. Where there would be some form of breakdown (say in a song like A Vulgar Picture), on Nocturnal, things just got a whole lot faster. In general, what can be said about the album is that the tempo has definitely been upped as a whole. In my opinion, this is a good thing, as the band function well at these high speeds.
I Worship Only What I Bleed also gives a small insight into some clearly audible bass. Which is nice for once. The breaks are only small and the instrumentation is relatively simplistic but it is a step forward (especially when almost all new American metal bands decide to mix out all bass from their recording). However, with all that has been said already about the album, a whole lot more has to come it, with the latter parts being mostly negative. Trevor's vocal style is bound to get on a lot of people's tits after a while; he is a competent vocalist and that cannot be taken away from him, but his high shrieking in particular can become overwhelming at times as it does bleed the ears after a while. Another negative is that songs don't really do anything to help them stand out from the pack. I see Nocturnal as a set of ten songs by The Black Dahlia Murder, whereas when I think of Unhallowed I'd say that Funeral Thirst sticks out. That's not to say Nocturnal doesn't have it's highlights. What I am saying is that you'll probably have to listen through the album a few times before they begin to show through.
Guitar solos are usually something that helps to add an extra dimension to a band's sound. Heck, some band's even rely on solos a bit too much I feel (Children of Bodom, I'm looking in your direction). But when The Black Dahlia Murder do a solo, it feels like the solo that was on the track just before it. They all sound the same; the minor arpeggios, quick runs and eerie passages that help make it into a more morbid listening experience perhaps. For me, the solo on Funeral Thirst back on Unhallowed was perfect, mostly because it was memorable as well melodic and technically proficient. But of all the solos on Nocturnal (and there are plenty of them throughout), none of them will particularly stick in your mind. The same goes for the riffs, yet this is slightly less of a negative point. All the riffs are good, it is just that the band choose to write every riff in a similar style. Which leaves you wondering what's what in each song. That said, songs like Of Darkness Spawned and the title track bear witness to some juicy guitar moments in the riff department.
Overall, whilst the band haven't really progressed in their sound, they've capitalized on what they do well and made ten songs worthy to be placed on the record. Nocturnal is a solid effort from a band that have realized their trademarks well and put them to good use. Buy it just because of Strnad's vocal performance - he truly does sound ever so manic and spits outs more syllables and complex lyrical lines than you could shake a stick at.
Recommended Tracks
Everything Went Black
Nocturnal
Deathmask Divine
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| Recent reviews by this author | | |
Album Rating: 4.5
Good review, this is my favorite BDM cd yet.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Good review, and so far I agree with most of it, although I'm in the middle of listening to CoB ARGGH. I'm going to go listen to the other half of this album later.
Digging: Misery Signals - Controller | | |
Gonna ask for this for xmas or something, too much other stuff on my list atm. Good review, although it mostly read more like it was a 2.5 or 3 review than a 4.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Nice review, though I disagree that Miasma was even close to Unhallowed. I thought their second album was horribly uninspired, and it sounds as though this third one may be more of the same, but I'll still have to check it out.
Did you ever notice how similar their style is to At the Gates? listen to Unhallowed and Slaughter of the Soul back to back and only the vocals seem to set the two apart.
Digging: Dissection - Storm of the Lights Bane | | | Album Rating: 3
I agree, Miasma was very poor. This is kind of in the middle of things, although closer to Unhallowed I would say. Still the songs on here are suprisingly unmemorable. Also if I hadn't seen the rating on your review, I wouldn't have read this as a 4 either.
For now I'm liking Arch Enemy's new album much more.
This Message Edited On 09.22.07
| | | Album Rating: 4
I was torn between giving it a 3.5 or a 4. In the end, I settled on a 4, mostly because as a whole I do enjoy the album. Whereas on Miasma I enjoyed individual tracks more.
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Good review, I'm kind of bummed to hear all of their solos still sound the same like they did on Miasma.
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Originally Posted by review
causing the inevitable label of 'sell-out' to come about.
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I'm still perplexed as to how a death metal band can sell out and almost always laugh when people say that.
Digging: In Fear and Faith - Voyage
| | | Album Rating: 3
It's possible.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Hmm, I got this album a couple of days age and have only listened to it once, maybe I should listen to it again. It didn't really grip me the first time around.
Digging: Converge - Jane Doe | | |
This sounds really cool. Is it at all metalcore anymore?
Digging: Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
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Not trying to doubt that it is but how would a death metal band sell out? Go metalcore? I'm honestly not trying to sound like a know it all (cause when it comes to death metal I'm quite the opposite) but could you give an example?
| | | Album Rating: 4
i'm liking this, like you said, not much of a change from before, but good nonetheless. Deathmask Divine and To a Breathless Oblivion are my favourites so far.
Digging: Ninja Gun - Restless Rubes | | | Album Rating: 4
btw ToWhatEnd, if the same rules apply to death metal as to black metal, "selling out" constitutes getting a producer and recording in something larger than a shoebox.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Quote:
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This sounds really cool. Is it at all metalcore anymore?
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No, but the influence is there.
This Message Edited On 09.22.07
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It never was metalcore.
Digging: Six Minute Century - Time Capsules
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
"What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse", also the name of there first ep, is an awesome song. Overall I really like this album top to bottom. Good Review, though I like Miasma just as much as Unhollowed
This Message Edited On 09.22.07
Digging: God Is An Astronaut - All Is Violent, All Is Bright | | | Album Rating: 3
A very boring band in general.
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I used to be a huge, huge fan, now, not so much, but I'm quite interested in this.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
This album is pretty meh.
Digging: Pendulum - Hold Your Colour | | |
I'm not a fan of this band at all, they bore me.
Digging: Skyfire - Spectral
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