Review by Tomek on March 24, 2014.

Noctem are a blackened death metal band from Valencia – Spain. Exilium is their latest effort and the last part of the conceptual trilogy that also contains albums Divinity and Oblivion. I haven’t had the chance to listen to the previous two, but after Exilium I’m bound to get all three in my collection. Noctem strikes me as a band complete, a band with a clear vision and passion for extreme. Music, imagery, lyrics, attire- everything meshes into an absolute brute ready to conquer and reign.

I have to admit that while listening to the intro I was a little skeptical. It wasn’t that I was expecting anything after being introduced to the album by sheer power of Eidolon, it sounded good but it didn’t sound evil enough for me. The feeling got quickly erased with the first riffs and a sound of guitar from the first track and I have to say that from that point I knew that this album is going to be belligerent, demolishing and enticing. Listening to the album for the last couple of days showed me that Noctem is ready to lead the pack. Everything here has its place and everything that happens, happens for a reason. Guitar sound is something that catches you by the ear and I don’t think there is anybody out there that sounds even remotely similar. It’s not just the sound though; riffs and melodies are intertwined with majestic choirs; acoustic melodies and grandiose orchestrations are pieced together to build this extreme creature that seems to want to swallow you whole once you get close to it. Remarkably tight drumming and fat rumble of the bass are brilliantly positioned in the mix to accentuate and somewhat spotlight the demonic and brutally exquisite vocals. All of it recorded with an astonishing quality and unquestionably ready to make your ears bleed. Noctem created an album that is a soundtrack to destruction, carnage and murder. If two earlier releases are anything like the piece I have here, the whole trilogy is something that any metalhead is going to be bound to check out if not own.

If it comes to extreme kinds of metal Noctem’s Exilium is a masterpiece that is going to be the one to match in the future. Very intelligent and exquisitely aggressive, it showcases the band in its prime. Extreme metal supported by strong lyrics, demonic imagery and warpath attire. A band that is ready to sit on the blackest throne and rule all.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.6 out of 10