NOCTURNA
NOCTURNA “Of Sorcery And Darkness”
By Iron Sheik
NOCTUNRA bring us album number two with “Of Sorcery And Darkness”. They are a symphonic power metal band, and their lyrics explore themes of dark fantasy. From Milan, Italy, founders and front women Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight bring a distinct tone each that play well off of one another. Even though I could not find out for sure, I am certain both women are sopranos. Furthermore “Of Sorcery And Darkness” features songwriting by Federico Mondelli (Hedon). Although other musicians are pictured and listed, Antares on bass and Deimos on drums, as well as Hedon on guitar, it is Hedon who performs all studio music.
Melodramatic, angelic, baroque, operatic, urgent, gothic, and haunting are all descriptors that came to me as I listened to this album. Envisioning NOCTURNA's music being played in a castle under a full moon with mist is an easy thing to see: angels and fairies in a magical dance.
“Burn The Witch” opens the album, and it is a very uptempo track. I was not expecting that. By the time “Midnight Sun” comes on there has been almost an urgency and a menacing vocal delivery at times with a guitar solo that has an air of familiarity to it. Goth on speed. I cannot leave out thE instrumental piece “First Disobedience” with ravens cawing and whispers. It segues into a minuet which in turn segues to “Seven Sins”. This is easily the heaviest track on the album. Keyboards are kept to relevant sections and are not constant, and when they are used they enhance what is going on musically. So far my favorite two tracks.
With the last track Last Day On Earth we have a midpaced and piano driven melodramatic power ballad. An ending at thirty-five minutes which is perfect.
Very angelic vocals take “Of Sorcery And Darkness” to an otherworldly place. That place is the time of magic of old, gothic, and moon lit. Symphonic musicallity aides that otherworldly place. NOCTURNA have created a vision and sound that’s urgent, menacing, heavenly, and operatic; a dark fantasy world of their own. This is an album deserving of greater attention. NOCTURNA are a band poised for notoriety with “Of Sorcery And Darkness”. Give yourself a break, sit down, and listen to the album. Be taken to a gothic world full of darkness, full of sorcery. You won't be disappointed.