Netherworlds are further immersed in shadow as the eminent RAVENOIR unveils their newest portent, which arrives just over a year after the dark gathering raised on Cultus Inferi, and some distinct elements from that mass have now been focused even more to form the funereal essence of Nocturne. Its vast and grandiose auras draw toward an afterlife steeped in melancholy, where somber paces fit for pallbearing accommodate the steady roar of heavy chord progressions and atmospheric tones, and melodic specters are often found echoing the mournful immensity across those planes. A potent aspect of this melodicism is the leadwork conjured throughout, with “Aura of Death” capturing one point of highly euphoric darkness from its solo, and there is also a second captivating approach reflected in another lead section using clear effects.
The heavier forms advance each dirge along different lines, with a versatility noted when chords ascend fittingly amid “Flames are Rising Higher,” and they carry a brooding tone on “Tearful Heavens” that becomes amplified with atmospheric and vocal accompaniments. Those elements are also wielded in areas where the sound bares a rawer edge, and “Convergence of Shadows” highlights this through its sinister grooving riffs, which are further enhanced by nuances buried in the blackness and a deathly chill from arpeggiated notes. The latter feature continues to cast dreary shades on “Far Beyond Eternity,” a hymn that highlights different vocal layers while drifting across planes of ethereal dissonance, and the backing vocals especially are enough to draw one hypnotically into their void. Orations and the low disembodied harshness from Alesh AD match the substance orchestrated throughout, and points of wrath and doom observed during these rites are effectively driven using certain patterns or shifts in the delivery.
This collective is steeped notably in atmosphere, and besides having various aural tones raised among its masses, which contribute to a dark enchantment without overshadowing the riffs, there are three instrumental tracks appearing at intervals throughout. These include haunting combinations of violin, acoustics, and pianos that deepen the sorrow while their placement offers moments for reflection, and a clock ticking at the end of “My Dying Sun (Farewell)” seems particularly symbolic as the inevitable comes to pass. With a solid duration that fully utilizes its entire 46 minutes, it is clear the creative reservoir in Alesh AD has yet to expire, and this may be the strongest addition to the band’s lore so far. There is enough dynamism contained in the rhythms and drumming to avoid stagnancy over the slower pace, and it ultimately suits the woeful spirit centered within, but points executing a faster and sharpened attack are still somewhat missed here. Despite this consideration, Nocturne possesses an array of black, gothic, death and doom elements that craft a formidable entry into RAVENOIR’s endless catacombs, and those treading beneath will be easily spellbound by its graveside splendor.
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