Nox Intempesta
Review: One of the few bands capable of reviving some mystique from the formative years of black metal, this gothic-tinged black metal act make classically-inspired verses within simple but uniquely structured songs that carry the listener through a series of atmospheric changes as mood before resolving into a final unsettling ambience in the style of older black metal. The alternation of emphasis on points of tone within which themes articulate an evolution of method of accessing root note and thus, creating ascendant structure across a bounding and distinctive rhythm as means of influencing the piece toward a conclusion in that patterning. Like most metal it is understandable only in context of melody, where its sense of space allows creation of vaulted harmonic depth in which the permutations of fantasy or cruel daydream play.
1. Untrodden shall be the path to the marble planets (5:22) 
2. Sehrie einer Woelfin (4:19)
3. A sylph lost in sullen slumber (5:51)
4. Luna Aesthetica (6:10)
Length: 21:44
Deliberately invoking some of the terrifyingly Germanic aesthetic Darkthrone and other bands have employed, this short EP detours through a lengthy interlude of classical music and ambient intro of hateful chanting, but in its three songs provides a basis for understanding this view of style. Distinguishable by its particularly alienated mode of conceiving grandeur, this metal wrenches misanthropic rage from melodic structures of power chords and the carefully paced, almost visual dynamicism of atmosphere finely smeared through rushing organic sound. Citations of Emperor can be heard in the charging buildups which create a darkness sliced by transverse harmonies riding a wave of racing cymbal and drumblast, while hoarse vocals accompany as a tormentor of exact pacing emphasized through speechlike articulations in counterpoint, accumulating a resonance of motif which self-dissects later through decomposition into the elements of its creation.
Harsh and yet recognizably beautiful, the music of Nox Intempesta outlines a black metal context of aspiration and length in the connection of elements required for coherence to become absolute, at which point it is immersive and like works of ancient time, gains significance in spirit through journey.
Review: From the school of Emperor-styled vaulted melodies meshing into a stream of changing panoramic narrative that, by shifting its layers to change background contexture, maintains a solid sense of harmony against its own internal melodic tendencies, Nox Intempesta make often highspeed resonant melodic black metal of limblike extrusions through phrases connecting different kaleidoscopic views of the same essential motif cycled in tone. Dedication to the rawness in noise of this style also frees this band to create without impediments of aesthetic designed for social accessibility.
Rhythmically centered and in a moment, raw and minimal, yet escalating to a stage of multitiered counterpoint between blinding fast riffs and their slower counterparts which unveil the harmonic essence to each song, the phrases used here within the rhythmic structure of riff and circular portion of song evolving as motif, as means of conduit to expression, hold and develop melody by playing its elements against one another within the pacing of song development. Roaring surges of energy subside into relaxed patterns in which interplay of internal melody strummed into precise riff structure and vocals leading a rhythm section of portentious energy develop each song through its excesses and periods of slow growth and consideration.
Instrumentalism is excellent but understated in support of the integration of different threads of structural development through a narrative unfolding across themes, accompanied by an aesthetic of black metal which has developed to the stage of intricate changes in shape of phrase manipulating mood through changes in texture and resonance harmonic phenomena building up through the life of the evolution of a phrase. Occultist themes as versed in German form the basis of concept on this release, effecting mostly degree of mood and immersion in darkness and obscurity as viable elements of song.
Long riff developments end in phrases open to harmonic conclusion within a sensibility of dissonance and a degenerate cyclic thrust toward self-conclusion in resonance with nothingness or a chromatic, slamming conclusion: underpinnings of death metal structuralism emerge inside the context of evolving melodic texture in shifting layers carrying melodic continuity in multiple potential voices through sweeping strum and adept, alertly shifting structure with an interest in chaos recombined to clarity.
For its vision and pervasive mood, this album is unsurpassed and Nox Intempesta remains one of the few bands besides Summoning who can weave illustration of life in complexity and breadth through narrow adventures in darkness and the churning primordial pool of gestures that resemble the formidable riffing on this album. In resolution: it is the gleeful spirit of death.