The first thing I always have to do when faced with an EP like this is to remind myself that I am not a musician and therefore anyone who can string together a couple of chords has more talent than me. And Noctis Imperium can, thankfully, do far more than string together a couple of chords: The one man studio project turned full on band are a good, tight, more than competent unit.
This is the third EP from this Venezuelan squad and is Black/Death from the same deep mine as Morbid Angel for the most part, though perhaps with a slight more nod towards more orthodox Black Metal here and there in the vocal delivery and less of a feeling of something else lurking just over the threshold. Technical, tightly constructed, well played and thoroughly honest in its approach, you see there is nothing really to go wrong with 'Nihil'.
It kicks off with a nicely dark, if not shockingly original intro 'Ra-Hoor-Khuit' before crashing headfirst into 'Descensus As Infernos'. The production is sharp enough to not lose anything in the mix and Nick Barker (yes, he's helping out) makes sure that the beast has a solid engine kicking away in its guts. The guitars, courtesy of Aeneas Inferno and Aegrimonia are clear and sure footed, driving things forward in a blasting, nicely muscular fashion. 'Bring Me Sacrifice' keeps the tempo on the same level before we hit Noctis Imperium itself, probably the best song with some nice fretwork on the edge of the riff. We then get a solid if unremarkable cover of Morbid angel's 'Maze Of Torment' before closing out the EP proper with 'Unus In Nihil'.
There are eight tracks showcased here: the six studio songs and two live recordings with a different drummer (the pair includes a live version of 'Maze Of torment' which does leave you wondering if one of them could have been replaced by another older track...?) The live tracks are a little punchier in their delivery, whilst still firmly under control; the band clearly at home on stage which is always a good sign.
The problem is that it's a Black/Death metal EP called 'Nihil' and it sounds pretty much like you'd expect it to sound from that; solid, heavy, precise, technical. There is not enough of it raising its own head, its own Noctis Imperium take on things, high enough on this effort for me. Melody lines dance across the crests of the piledriving riffs, adding a little colour without draining the power but never quite breaking out into any areas of stunning light or new shapes. The riffs themselves which are the bedrock of each track are good but nothing more; too often you feel that they fall into a groove at the start which they never deviate from and you know exactly where they are going with them. The songs take no real chances, sticking to a solid but too often unexciting line. The roar of the vocals never quite rips free of its moorings. Control, I think is the issue I'm looking at. It is all so very controlled. I could never quite feel that there was something rabid or malevolent that might possibly break out of these songs but I never stopped wanting them to push it just a bit more just to prove me wrong.
Don't get me wrong, this is a good foundation to build from but hopefully next time they will feel ready to let through more of their own personality and let the songs snap and snarl just off the leash, maybe.
Certainly worth keeping an eye on if Black/Death is your thing though.
http://www.myspace.com/noctisimperium
