Noctu are a solo project from Italy that has had music reviewed before in this zine and plays an atmospheric and blackened form of funeral doom metal and this is a review of his 2022 album "Norma Evangelium Tenebris" which will be released in September by Dusktone.
A very dark sounding intro starts off the album before introducing keyboards onto the recording which also mixes in with the heavier sections of the songs at times. Elements of funeral doom metal can also be heard in the slower sections of the album while dark sounding melodies are also added into some of the guitar riffing.
Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams while the music also has its atmospheric moments. At times the music also adds in some depressive and suicidal touches along with all of the musical instruments also having a very powerful sound to them as well as most of the tracks also being very long and epic in length, dark soundscapes can also be heard at times and the whole album also sticks to a slower direction.
On this recording Noctu remains true to the atmospheric and blackened style of funeral doom metal that he has established on previous releases. The production sounds very dark and heavy while the lyrics cover sorrow, negativity, suicidal feelings self harm and darkness themes.
In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Noctu and if you are a fan of atmospheric and blackened funeral doom metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Anime torturate" and "Schiavi dell'inferno". 8 out of 10.