Band's List Black Metal Noctiferum Serenades of the Impure

Noctiferum is a band hailing from Vienna, Austria. They have recently released their demo “Serenades of the Impure” through B.A.S.C. (Bibliotheca Apostolica Septem Coronatorum), a label that seems to produce, promote and distribute bands with spiritual inclinations. At a first glance, this band seems to play a more swedish black metal style, rather than the simple and raw black metal you’d expect coming from Austria. The B.A.S.C. release flyer points out: “Noctiferum provides a unique and majestic listening experience. Their music is sinister, striking and powerful. It takes hints from bands in the vein of Watain and Mayhem, yet it’s unlike any other band. ‘Serenades of the Impure’ is only a demo, yet it surpasses many other black metal bands! Noctiferum’s future seems bright indeed”. I find this sample presentation quite straight to the point, although there are some statements I don’t fully agree with. I would also point out that some Onskapt influences are obvious, tending to lean towards that orthodox devil worshiping black metal sound that the swedish often give you, which is, of course, nothing bad.

B.A.S.C. seem to be on the right track by promoting such a band, especially with the presentation of the demo: “Released as exclusive tape in white card-board box with golden accents. Limited to 358 hand-numbered copies and splattered with human blood.”. It leaves you a sinister impression at first which walks hand in hand with their music and their conceptual ideas.

This being mentioned, I’m going to comment on the tracks one by one:

I - When The Shadows: Preparing you with a very sinister intro, the blasts and riffs create an alarming beat, common among most black metal bands. It reminds of the track “Alpha” from the british black metal band Subvertio Deus which also has clear swedish black metal influences.

II - Magnum Innominandum: This track definitly takes you to the “Rabid Deaths Curse” and “Casus Luciferi” era of Watain! The accoustic parts remind me very much of Dissection’s old releases.

III – Serenades of the Impure: The track after which the demo is named. It is a rather slow track with certain melodic fragments that entirely hypnotizes, making impossible listening to it without playing the whole track.

IV – Dark Sanctum: Begins with a blasting attitude and a typical black metal rhythm, clearly well pointed out.

V – Orbs of Parasites: The final track is rather slow but don’t let yourself misleaded: if it isn’t very aggressive it doesn’t mean it won’t capture your attention.

Specific to Noctiferum is that almost every track starts with a certain rhythm and ends with it as well. As I already stated, I personally label this band as playing “swedish orothodox black metal” in the style of Ondskapt, Mortuus, Ofermod, Nefandus and the british band Subvertio Deus, so if you like these band you will definitely enjoy this one as well.