
leader, wondering if he'll drown himself right now, or if he'll take those pills he bought on the darkweb after all...
Nocturnal Depression is not a newcomer, of course, they've been around since 2004, and released more than 20 albums, splits and demo's...talk about prolific. ND is a five-piece band, and it seems that the return of Herr Suizid (who left between 2012 and 2019) breathed a new spirit into the band.
About the music - it's probably not surprising this is not an uplifting record, but rather a prime example of DSBM. Songtitles like Slit my Wrists, Farewell Letter or Living in a Mass Grave don't leave a lot to the imagination either. Death, misery and suicide are the main lyrical topics. Musically, however, there is a lot to enjoy. The record even starts in a rather uplift mood (Drowning myself - Tides of Despair) with riffs not unlike Alcest. A brilliant song, easily the most memorable of this record.
From there the mood goes downhill, but the quality remains just as good. Slit my Wrists is another highlight (hehehe), with a rather catchy refrain, which doesn't really fit the dark lyrics, but that's just part of the fun in my opinion. Living in a Mass GRave, Farewell Letter are slow, heavy and atmospheric. Muse of Suicide features some nice quirky glockenspiel, adding to the variety of sounds on offer.
The record closes with Reveries, a slightly dissonant and unnerving lullaby on piano and whistle, which rounds it off perfectly. Soundwise, there's nothing to complain about either. Everything sounds crystal clear, which is probably rather odd for a DSBM release, but I like it this way! All in all, a very good record, recommended for DSBM lovers.
Koen