Rating: 7.6

Country: USA

Release Date: 2005

Record Label: Southern Lord

Track list:
1. My Vengeance
2. Eulogy IV
3. Bleed For Thee
4. The Wound Which Cannot Heal
5. You Get Nothing
6. Charioteer (Temple Song) (Earth cover…Live 7/03)
7. Stemmen Fra Tarnet (Burzum cover)
8. Satanic Blood (Von cover)
9. Antichrist Messiah/ My Vengeance (Live 12/04)

Nachtmystium - Eulogy IV

Of all the USBM bands that kvlt kiddies are losing their minds over nowadays, few are more prominent or more widely praised than Nachtmystium, who appear to be gaining much ubiquity/notoriety amongst underground denizens of late. To be perfectly frank, I have never been horribly impressed with Azentrius' musical output- the early material sounded like amateurish Peaceville Darkthrone replication to these ears, while the vastly improved, but still haplessly derivative 'Demise' LP came off like a less inspired version of an already tiresome revivalist record, Taake's infamous 'Nattestid' exploit. With the burgeoning enthusiasm surrounding 'Eulogy IV' and the rampant suggestions that it was ‘'wholly unlike any of the previous material'' (the exact words of a trusted comrade), I succumbed to the hype and mustered up the cash to secure a copy of this release. After a string of listens, I am thankful that, for once, the hype is wholly justified- this is a MASSIVE stride in the right direction for Nacthmystium, and an artistic triumph in every imaginable sense.

While the Nachtmystium approach still remains firmly entrenched in Nordic shores, their influences are far less discernible than ever before, the band asserting a definite, unique identity via the medium of frostbitten, majestic black metal. The spectral shadows of Darkthrone and early Satyricon still hover above the recording, but this parallel has much more to do with the despotically cold feel evoked than any artistic emulation on Azentrius' part. In truth, this release has more to do with the likes of newer outfits such as (first album) Beatrik and Forgotten Tomb than anything from Norway's unhallowed glory days, Azentrius liberally indulging his yen for morose, drawn-out passages that juxtapose droning, chilly atmospherics with agile, warmly tuneful solos, simultaneously contrasting the static with the active, the dissonant with the melodic, adorning despondent, misanthropic figures with gorgeous leads that positively bleed with emotion. Much like Beatrik did with their brilliant 'Journey Through The End Of Life' record, Nachtmystium provide a refreshing alternative to the well-trodden ‘'depressive black metal'' tradition, not so much alienating as navigating the listener through Azentrius' labyrinthine chasms of despair. No doubt, this is a very personal, intimate release that boasts a disarming honesty not found in any Nachtmystium release to date, Azentrius shedding the drab, impersonal idolatry of yore and finally allowing the listener insights into his individual musical aspirations.

This record truly affirms what I've been asserting for a while- more black metal musicians should play leads, dammit! The leads throughout the record are lush, vivid, expressive, elucidating and cohering Azentrius' emotions more than lyrics (which aren't provided) could. Interestingly, this issue appends all the vinyl bonus tracks that weren't previously available on the original EP pressing, including quaint Earth, Burzum and Von covers, but the real focus should justly remain on the sheer entrancing brilliance of the five original offerings here. Simultaneously grim and sensitive, gruesome and beautiful, this gets highest recommendations from me. If Nachtmystium continue to hone their identity and pursue this dimension further, I have no doubt that they will assume their place amongst the finest purveyors of American black metal today.

July 24th, 2005