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Review: Nocturnus AD - Unicursal
Nocturnus AD
www.facebook.com/NocturnusAD
Unicursal

Label: Profound Lore Records
Year released: 2024
Duration: 59:10
Tracks: 10
Genre: Death Metal

Rating:
4/5


Review online: June 9, 2024
Reviewed by: Sargon the Terrible
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4.1/5 (82%) (10 Votes)
Review

After many years of a mostly theoretical existence, Nocturnus A. D. came roaring to life with their proper debut, Paradox, in 2019. Now 2019 was a cliff that silenced quite a few bands, but Mike Browning and company have certainly been through worse, so I never doubted we would hear more from them. Lo, here we get their follow-up album as they forge onward into their new life.

I think it is interesting that after all these years, nobody else really sounds like this, despite how lauded The Key is among technical metalheads. It doesn't seem like a hard sound to emulate, but it apparently is, as nobody has really managed it. Here we once again have songs that are dense with detail, tight playing, and intense instrumentation, with the creepy keyboard sounds underlying it all and making it sound like a techno-horror movie. They do experiment with some more epic, melodic songwriting on "Mesolithic," and I like it really well, though I do think the more "conversational" vocal style on that one—and on other songs—is a miss. Overall, this is a bit less technical and a little less heavy than last time, but it is still a satisfying listen.

See below for more reviews and interviews... ↓
More about Nocturnus AD...
Review: Paradox (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Unicursal (reviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Interview with drummer and vocalist Mike Browning on December 7, 2013 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Interview with vocalist and drummer Mike Browning on February 7, 2015 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Interview with drummer and vocalist Mike Browning on August 21, 2016 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Interview with drummer and vocalist Mike Browning on June 16, 2019 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Interview with drummer and vocalist Mike Browning on December 31, 2022 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Interview with drummer and vocalist Mike Browning on October 25, 2023 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
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