Nachtmystium "Reign Of The Malicious" CD

Track 7 Burzum cover Licensed from Regimental Records.

Re-issue of the debut album of this cult American black metal band. Jewelcase CD.

This was the first bit of music I'd heard from this now legendary USBM band and although their current music transcends black metal REIGN OF THE MALICIOUS is "true" as true can be. The production is ULTRA NECRO even by true standards, Azentrius(Blake) is totally corpse painted out and there is a cool and there is a cool cover of BURZUM's "Lost Wisdom."
After a sort of generic BM keyboard intro the album gets the party started with the title track. Even through the production the power of this track is undeniable from the first riff. What has always made Nachtmystium special is Blake's ability to write excellent melodies and songs that stay with you after you've put the album away. The mid song Call of the Ancient is an extremely slow depressing song sort of in the vein of early Judas Iscariot an unoriginal comparison but true non-the-less. The most bad-ASSS track on this album is MAY DARKNESS CONSUME THE FUCKING EARTH!! I remember when I saw these guys at The Elbow Room I almost shat myself when they played this song. MDCTE is one of the best apocalyptic black metal songs I've ever heard simultaneously creating both a grim and epic atmosphere. The last song is the Burzum cover I mentioned earlier, it's not bad but it is tough to rate a cover of a band as great as Burzum. I mean EVERYONE is influenced by that Nazi. The bonus track is a poor quality live recording that ends the album on a sour note. Seriously, it adds nothing to the album.
Over all this is a good indicator of the great things to come. This is by no means a flawless album but Blake is definitely a talented fuck.

Sample: