Spanish extreme black metal group Noctem do NOT mess around. With this year’s release of Haeresis, the band leaves no page unturned. No frilly intro, no soundscaping, and no gently easing into the album; it starts fast, heavy and loud. The band’s bandcamp tells us that the album was recorded by Tore Stjerna of Necromorbus Studio, who have also recorded material for Watain and Tribulation.

As I said, the album starts abruptly. There is no time to get used to the sound or the production, or really even settle in to listen to Noctem’s work. The blast beats immediately start rolling and the dissonant guitar chords come flying out the speakers instantly. This, however, is also my gripe with the rest of the album; the drums come first. Now, I know Noctem is an extreme black metal band, but the emphasis on the drums is a little too much for me. The guitars and vocals sound almost fragile next to the barrage of the battery.

However, the arrangements on Haeresis are generally good. The melodies and chords call back to the Norwegian Second Wave with an added dash of death metal. The chord progressions and melodies are haunting, sometimes almost ritual, bringing with them a sense of unease. There are a few scarce moments where the music dips a little, so the listener gets some reprieve. Exactly the way you would expect extreme black metal to be.

For me, though, the call-back aspect is taken too literally. Although the arrangements are good and it makes for a solid album, I feel I’ve heard this before. Noctem seems to not want to deviate from the original sound of Norwegian black metal. There is really nothing that pops out for me, nothing that really sets them apart from the rest of the black metal scene. It is a solid record, don’t get me wrong, it’s just nothing surprising or innovative.

6.0/10

SAM C.A. VAN DE LEUR