EP Review: Nocturnal Spawn - "Emissaries Of The Other Side"
Death Metal influenced Black Metal act, Nocturnal Spawn, release new EP.
Tracklist
- Intro
- Death Unbound
- Unspoken
- Emissaries Of The Other Side
- The Ancient Shadow
- Children Of Nil
Review
Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, extreme metal act Nocturnal Spawn released their latest album, Emisarries Of The Other Side on February 12th, 2025.
The EP starts off with a 1-minute intro track that sets an ominous tone as distant bells and wind chimes create a haunting atmosphere alongside growing distortion. Soon the metal act jumps into action with Death Unbound which quickly introduces itself with dark, black metal inspired tremolo picking and chords. Groovy drum cymbals and blast beats race alongside dramatic riffs and ferociously heavy screaming vocals, showcasing an intense black metal sound.
Unspoken starts off with fast-paced riffage and explosive percussion that soon makes way for chunky guitar melodies and raw screams. The 2nd track of the EP still features heavy black metal influences–particularly with the vocals–but also explores further into classic death metal influences with an old-school style that is equally groovy and hard-hitting. Distorted guitar bends and screeching solos build dynamic atmospheres that have a sense of showmanship and fierceness.
The EP's title track Emissaries Of The Other Side" doesn't waste a second, catapaulting directly into thrashing action with lightning-fast guitar leads, impactful drumming, and shrill vocals. The entire EP has a slight lofi or distant sound, which adds a touch of rawness to the sound in typical black metal fashion. Brutal, authentic, and wildly heavy Emissaries Of The Other Side delivers a crushingly intense display of extreme metal that is unique to Nocturnal Spawn.
Track 5, The Ancient Shadow begins with eerie wind before sliding right into a speedy drum fill and speed metal pacing with dramatic changes in instrumental pacing. In the song's bridge, everything cuts out except for a fuzzy guitar lead as the rest of the band slowly builds back into the fray with melodic guitar harmonies and inhuman screams soon rejoining the mix and ultimately fading out with a rapid tempo.
The final and longest track of the EP at 5 minutes, Children of Nil, starts off with slow, sludgy, doom metal-esque riffs as tremolo guitar contrasts the slower tempo to create a diverse sound. Dark, atmospheric soundscapes are created with multiple guitar tracks and distant screams, creating an overall hazy, raw, and intense sound. After a soaring guitar solo, the song comes to a fitting end, closing up the album in extreme fashion.
You can stream Nocturnal Spawn's new EP, Emissaries Of The Other Side out everywhere now!
Find Them Here: Spotify Instagram Facebook
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