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When a band says it's going to make a sound "dedicated to all Melodic Death old-school fans", one of two things can happen: 1) it will come out as a bland, pretentious and lame excuse for an album or 2) it's going to be fucking great.

Tomasz Wisniewski, vocalist and leader of the already seasoned Dawn of Disease, also signs the work here, accompanied by drummer Christian Timmer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Tybussek (bass, guitar), delivering a slightly different experience than his other child, this time with more voracity and power. With an amazingly high level of inspiration, songs like "Rise of the Kraken", "Levihatan" and the title track break through the comfort zone, and the musical ambiguity provided by the cold and fierce production work allied with vivid melodies and splendorous riffs indicates a well-matured band ready to take on the world. The brand of old-school Melodic Death/Black played by bands like Unanimated is easily interpreted and perfected, and while you may also hear some parts resembling Dark Tranquillity or other more melodic groups, it is in the somberness and darkness of its songwriting that Nyktophobia really shines.

Buried in the depths of the German underground, these guys created what is undoubtedly one of the best works of Melodic Death in 2017; believe me, the album is killer in every sense. Even if we take away the nostalgic factor that the old school sound provides, the album definitely excels on being highly entertaining. Absolutely mandatory for Death Metal fans.