NACHTMYSTIUM — Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1 (review)

NACHTMYSTIUM — Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1 album cover Album · 2008 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Assassins: Black Meddle Part I" is the 4th full-length studio album by US black metal act Nachtmystium. The album was released in June 2008 by Century Media Records. A vinyl version of the album was released by Back in Black.

The music on the album is black metal with some anthemic heavy metal elements. There´s a progressive touch to some of the tracks but it´s mostly the ending trio of tracks ( "Seasick, Part I: Drowned at Dusk", "Seasick, Part II: Oceanborne", "Seasick, Part III: Silent Sunrise") that I would label progressive. Tracks like "Ghosts of Grace", "Your True Enemy" and "Omnivore" are more "regular" black metal/ heavy metal tracks.

The band´s basic black metal sound is boosted by synths, keyboards and effects courtesy of Sanford Parker ( Minsk, Buried at Sea, Behold! The Living Corpse, Twilight, The High Confessions, Circle Of Animals) and there´s even some saxophone playing in the ending trio of tracks which also gives the album a nice varied touch. The inclusion of guest lead guitarists on several tracks is also a really good idea, as the solos on the album generally are very well sounding and add atmosphere to the songs.

"Assassins: Black Meddle Part I" was recorded and mixed by Sanford Parker at Volume Studios and produced by Sanford Parker and Nachtmystium. They´ve created a powerful and professional production, that suits the music well, but could have prospered from a slightly more raw sound if you ask me.

My fist listen to this album didn´t impress me much, but I´d advice you to take further listens before passing judgement, because repeated listens have revealed a lot of details and interesting ideas that I didn´t hear the first time around. I´ve come to the conclusion that Nachtmystium have quite a unique sound and while their basic songwriting might not be that interesting, if it weren´t for all the added effects, I´ve ended up pretty impressed. I´d say a 3.5 - 4 star rating isn´t all wrong for "Assassins: Black Meddle Part I".
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Goblin Sessions Heavy Metal
THEM
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 3 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us