Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

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Band
Nachtmystium
Title
Assassins: Black Meddle Pt 1
Type
LP/EP
Company
Century Media
YOR
2008
Style
Black
8/22/2008 - Review by: Raising Iron

Nachtmystium
Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1

Company: Century Media
Release: 2008
Reviewer: Raising Iron
Genre: Black

  • The metal connoisseur will gravitate to this one in years to come



  • Nachtmystium's highly anticipated new release, "Assassins: Black Meddle Part I", has dropped, and man, what a sonic landscape they've given us. Ideas tossed about and hinted at on their previous effort, 2006's "Instinct: Decay", are now fully (home)grown and fleshed out. Current prevailing wisdom describes their modern incarnation as Pink Floyd (who released an album named "Meddle") melded with black metal, and as much as that description may seem hard to conceive, its pin-pointedly accurate. And hell, when your opening intro is a direct takeoff off from Pink Floyd's "One of These Days" – here entitled "One of These Nights" – it's no surprise. Opeth could be another comparative, but not in sound, only in compositional approach, both bands melding together varied styles into a tight, cohesive sound.

    Before you fret, the black metal tendencies are still quite prevalent, and there aren't 20 minute plus meanderings ala "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" to quicken the effect of any mind-numbing substances you may be ingesting. Instead, the songs are all expeditiously consequential, and even the 8 minute title track, or the loosely strung 3 song trilogy - clocking in at around 11 minutes - are quick to achieve their desired effect. Other Floydian moments are found in the transitional track "Away From the Light", and the solos found on "Code Negative" and "Seasick (Part 3: Silent Sunrise)", drip with Gilmore-esque style.

    All that being said, where "Assassins" truly slays is in its strength of song. I mean, there are no overtly technical passages, crazy time signatures, or bone-jarring shifts of pace to confound and perplex the listener, just judiciously excised melodies, riffs (sharp as katanas), and movements to make you want to bury and burn your brain cells into the grooves contained herein. The other thing that propels this release is the song order. An art that has been all but lost in the modern age, the pacing from song to song couldn't have been better. Absolute, sheer brilliance and it lends itself well to the overall canter at which the entire album proceeds. The only complaint to be levied against this epic is it's a bit mid-rangy in its production, although still quite clear and defined.

    Sure to make many top ten lists this year (mine included), Nachtmystium have unequivocally
    taken a huge step forward in creativity and execution over their last outing, "Assassins" stealthily sneaking upon the unwary listener, only to open his or her mind as to what can be unleashed when the confines of genre dictates are abandoned. The metal connoisseur will gravitate to this one in years to come, and hopefully, so will many of the rest of you. And hey, according to the title, this is only part one!?!


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4.5 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: NACHTMYSTIUM
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Assassins: Black Meddle Pt 1
    2008
    Century Media
    Raising Iron8/22/2008
    4.5
    Doomsday Derelicts
    2009
    Battle Kommand
    Raising Iron7/2/2009
    4
    Instinct: Decay
    2006
    Battle Kommand
    Etiam10/3/2006
    3
    Nachtmystium
    2003
    Battle Kommand
    Etiam4/15/2007
    2

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: NACHTMYSTIUM
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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