NOCTURNAL -

NOCTURNAL - ARRIVAL OF THE CARNIVORE - FROM BEYOND/DISPLEASED
Two minutes into Nocturnal's debut album and past the John Carpenter-ish intro the German hellraisers attack the senses with metal that is both pure and golden. The German metal machine has everything it takes to irrefutably be labelled pure and true to the paradigms of the style. Adorned with a true metal image, title, art and music the gang of Mayhem, Vomitor, Avenger and Hellbastard recall what it was like to be a true metal fan and unabashedly rub it in the face of the mutant naysayers. It is amazing what keeps the spirit of the glory days alive, but the way Nocturnal looks and acts the part is proof of the timelessness of the music. The band has elements of Slayer, Kreator, Sodom and Razor (all early), while the drummer makes sure he has the Ventor drum roll down pat. The singer can vary his vocals to be either like Baloff-era Exodus or Iron Angel which means he can do no wrong. Some tracks are a tad too close to the original trailblazers for comfort - Megadeth for example on the song Nuclear Strike - but frankly no one cares when headbanging in the middle of this powerful speed-o-rama. - Ali "The Metallian"