NACHTIG
NACHTIG “Eisig’ Romantik”
By Dr. Abner Mality
This is the kind of black metal that practically demands you listen to it in the middle of a drizzling November sleet, preferably after your cat or dog has died. Naturally it is a one man outfit, this time with V.V. also of COSMIC BURIAL and VALOSTA VARJOON doing the honors. I hope V.V. kept antidepressants handy and sharp instruments far away, as this is extremely gloomy stuff.
To be honest, these droning depressive black metal acts have never been my thing. I will say NACHTIG is more musically accomplished and coherent than most. The production is not that clean...the drums in particular sound muffled and primitive...but this is not the shitty “necro” sound that was so prevalent in the early 2000’s. The four songs all run about 10 to 11 and a half minutes...long, but not as excruciating as others I have heard. But it’s long enough for me, The protracted droning will test patience for sure, but I have to admit, V.V. has some up with some truly sad and epic riffs here. The last two cuts, the title track and “Der Klang der Natur”, work best. There’s plenty of piano and synth tossed in and usually each song has at least one section where things drop to an acoustic interlude. The vocals are harsh but not horrifically so.
There really is not too much more to add. If you gravitate to sad, epic music and are not allergic to keys and acoustic guitar, you are likely to find NACHTIG to your taste. I like having my face ripped off tastefully a bit more than crying in my mead.