NOCTURNUS - The Key

Coming from Florida, the death metal paradise, Nocturnus are set apart significantly from other bands in this genre due to their avant-garde sound. Their debut release was in 1991, when they released The Key under Earache. This is a milestone album, because Nocturnus was the first band in the history of death metal to use keyboards as a main instrument. Another distinctive element lies in the lyrics, with sci-fi and horror themes.

The album is a conceptual one, describing over 10 songs the story of a cyborg as Christianity is destroyed and a modern empire rises to power. Musically the record is rather complex, with countless guitar riffs, staggering guitar riffs, bordering on the schizophrenic, death metal drumming and spacey keyboards. As for vocals, drummer Mike Browning does not excel, but is not annoying either, even though a more polished voice would have been an advantage in places. Complexity can sometimes give the impression of chaos, but this is a purposefully created chaos. The strong points are Lake Of Fire, Undead Journey and Andromeda Strain. The Americans’ technical abilities are remarkable, and the production is a plus for the album.

Overall, The Key is an avant-garde album that has created a sensation in the early 90s in the monotonous landscape of brutal death metal. Unfortunately, soon after the release of their second album, Threshold, Nocturnus ceased to exist for years, and their potential and innovations could not reach their full potential.

Dragos P. Nota: 9