Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Two years after the surprise success of their debut album, “Daughters of the Night“, Italian symphonic / power metal band Nocturna are back with a fresh concoction of ‘dark fantasy’ metal tunes. Luckily for us, many of the key ingredients are still present, so if you liked their first effort, then you’ll no doubt want to check out “Of Sorcery And Darkness” when it releases through Scarlet Records on April 19th.
Songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Frederico Mondelli (Frozen Crown, Volturian & Be The Wolf) remains the mastermind behind these magical songs. But it is the bewitching duo of Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight that is once again responsible for bringing them to life. Together they stir up a potent mix of theatrical and operatic vocal harmonies. And it is near on impossible to resist their charm, which could explain why they are the main focal point in all of the promotional material for the album. To the extent that other members of the band are even donning masks (which fans have eagerly likened to Slipknot). Filling out this mysterious line-up nonetheless is Hedon (guitar), Antares (bass) and Deimos (drums).
The album kicks off in high gear with “Burn The Witch“, a title which doesn’t exactly bode well for our two witchy frontwomen. The song is very much of the power metal variety, and immediately draws quick comparisons to Frozen Crown due to its brisk and majestic feel. We are greeted with the vocals of Grace Darkling first, who hits all the right characteristics in her slick and histrionic belting style. Conversely, Rehn Stillnight embodies a lighter, more classical touch as she chimes in moments later. Both voices are fundamentally different, but they are equally matched, and have an undeniable synergy whenever brought together. Yet “Sapphire” confirms that they are more than capable of carrying these songs on their own, as we are given the chance to treasure each of the vocalists individually while they take turns with the verses. “Noctis Avem” ups the drama, along with the heaviness. There is an impressive wail that leads us to the opening verse. And the song has a steady, upbeat rhythm that sporadically ramps up with the drums in order to accentuate certain moments. But it was actually the bridges that garnered most of my attention, as the harmonic pitches here sound absolutely divine. On that note, “Creatures of Darkness” is practically biblical. Not just for its grandeur and scale, but also for its many lyrical references.
Our Solace, For Long Denied
Nocturna – “Creatures of Darkness”
Lies In Heaven’s Night
As Falling The Brightest Knight
Lucifer’s Demise
We’re Burning, Sons Of The Light
Daughters Of The Night
Returning To Grace And Might
The almost acapella start of “Midnight Sun” introduces us to yet another powerful banger. When the band kicks in with full-force, the listener is whisked away at a heady tempo. The track also features a fast breakaway guitar solo, and the wait has definitely been worth it. The key change towards the end is the final icing on the cake to heighten the exhilaration. A brief instrumental interlude ensues with “First Disobedience“, showcasing haunting bird sounds, whispered words, and some acoustic, neo-classical elements later on in the track. The atmosphere is suitably set for “Seven Sins“, the first single and already monstrous hit, with its thunderous bass and “Phantom of the Opera”-style piano notes enshrining it as one of the more memorable pieces of the album.
“Through The Maze” leans even more significantly into this stagey, neo-goth operatic vibe, with Stillnight commencing the number with her vocalised scales and epic high register. It is perhaps my favourite performance of hers in the whole album. But Darkling also brings something new to the table, so as not to be outdone, with a more sultry and commanding tonality to her clean singing than we’ve heard from her up to now. And more than a hint of chic in the intonation. The song is a definite highlight. But it doesn’t stop there. “Strangers” gets the blood flowing again, with a pumping rhythm and anthemic melody. The start-stop delivery of the chorus lines giving it a similar mood to Nightwish’s “Wishmaster“. Whereas final track “The Last Day On Earth” brings it home, with a touching ballad and a reminder to make the most of every moment and treasure them with those we love: “Life’s just the blink of an eye // A memory to be erased in time // … Never forget who wiped your tears // Like it was our last day on this Earth“. It’s a moving finale, and a brilliant way to close the curtain on this already magnificent opus.
Verdict: The second time is the charm for Nocturna’s “Of Sorcery and Darkness”, which manages to improve on its predecessor in every way. Converying a darker aesthetic and deeper maturity, plus better performances all round, Nocturna look ready to cast an even more powerful spell over the metal scene.
