Nocturnus AD – Unicursal
Release Date: 17th May 2024
Label: Profound Lore
Bandcamp
Genre: Thrash Metal, Death Metal.
FFO: Voivod, Vektor, Warbringer, Nocturnus.
Review By: Ceta
Nocturnus AD is a band with a short history, yet its roots stretch far back. Those of you who were around in the 80s probably know the band from its classic album, The Key, released under its previous name. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it was undeniably ahead of its time. While Nocturnus AD/Nocturnus has released other albums over the decades, today we want to explore Unicursal and see if it marks an interesting progression for the band.
Unicursal is weird in a way that doesn’t quite fit into any particular mold. It feels like an old thrash album produced with modern techniques. I suppose that’s precisely what it is, though—anachronistic yet modern. The riffs are straightforward and familiar, yet there’s room for experimentation, especially when it comes to the synth work. The synths go above and beyond, creating a futuristic atmosphere that has become Nocturnus AD’s signature sound.
It takes some time to get used to Unicursal‘s idiosyncratic approach to thrash. It’s interesting, but not something you’d listen to every day. It doesn’t even resemble other contemporary acts like Voivod. Perhaps the only thing that comes close is its previous release, Paradox. Speaking of which, Unicursal feels like Paradox 2.0. If you asked me to distinguish tracks between the two albums, I wouldn’t be able to.
Despite all the experimentation and overall weirdness found here, I don’t have major issues with the production. While I’m not the biggest fan of these synths, they don’t sound bad. My biggest gripe with Unicursal is that it sticks to one idea throughout the entire album. I would’ve liked to hear more variation from the tried-and-true formula. All extreme metal is a niche product, but Nocturnus AD‘s formula can only be compared with itself.
Overall, Unicursal is an intriguing effort that is definitely worth your time, if only to experience something different. The band might be ancient, but it has shown me that there’s still so much music out there to discover. So, give it a listen at least once!
(3 / 5)
