NOCTURNE is a two-piece from Austria and has been founded back in 2006. Both members are / were also active in the maybe better known band UNHALLOWED. The direction of NOCTURNE is not too far away from UNHALLOWED as the band also plays 90s influenced melodic Black Metal. After a demo release in 2013, they finally return with their first full-length and they absolutely do not disappoint with that. The opening track ‘Return To Chaos’ with its seven minutes running time is a really cold, majestic Black Metal hymn and reminds me heavily of MÖRK GRYNING during their debut phase. Fast and melodic Black Metal with fast and precise drumming, ever pounding double-bass, melodic freezing guitars and really fine Black Metal styled vocals. The difference to MÖRK GRYNING are the vocals, which often change into male choirs and whispers, similar to the last fine ISTAPP output. Also similar to ISTAPP, the band incorporated a lot of Heavy Metal and Power Metal guitar tunes, which fit very well into their sound and this makes the eight tracks sound very varied. Here and there the shadow of DISSECTION appears but their interpretation can be seen as homage to the guys from Strömstad. The ten years from their founding until the release of this debut were used to really present matured compositions. All tracks are on a similar high quality level but the opener and ‘Ama Lilith’ somehow shine out of the freezing cold. A cover tune of Jon Nödtveidts side-project DE INFERNALI completes this fine picture and the felicitous male vocals of Dan Swanö, similar to his glorious work on the first NIGHTINGALE output, round off this fine album. Fans of this style should buy this fine CD in digipak format (limited to 1000 copies) and support the band with the purchase. All further information you’ll find at following sources: www.facebook.com/shrineovnocturne, www.facebook.com/pages/unlight-productions/294911570551768