text: Dawid Krosnia
Örth
Nocturno Inferno
Satanic Art Media
April 7th, 2017
I’ve sat in front of my laptop for at least fifteen minutes wondering how to start this review. Do you know the feeling when you really like something and you cannot put this into words? My first impression after listening to the whole Örth album was – wow, I’m fucking speechless. This doesn’t happen very often these days because there’s so much music and too many bands who are simply too much influenced by their favourite artists and records, to the point that they lack any originality or creativity.
Örth was originally formed in Bergen just over two decades ago. The Nocturno Inferno album was recorded, produced and mixed by Erik Pytten Hundvin in Grieghallen between the glorious years for the black metal phenomenon, 1995/96. For some strange reason this record has never been officially released. Few years after recording this album Örth’s drummer, Grim, committed suicide and V-Rex decided to disband Örth. Shortly after that he resurrected the project and renamed it to Arvas. For me, the only explanation why this album has never seen the daylight is most probably that it was overshadowed by other already established black metal acts from the area and from the whole Norway. When Nocturno Inferno was in the process of recording some big albums came out at same time. Satyricon’s Nemesis Divina, Darkthrone’s Panzerfaust, Gorgoroth’s Antichrist or Immortal’s Battles in the North. All of them are now considered as the classics of this genre of music. And now, after all those years I can easily add Örth’s Nocturno Inferno into this mix of great and most respected album of black metal art.
Nocturno Inferno begins with melodic and hunted intro, Hymn Des Morts Pt. I followed by The Silence of the Guide. From the first moments of this track it’s instant adoration. You can feel the darkness filling up your body with a perfectly crafted black metal. The song is full of fast and blasphemous Norwegian fury but carefully composed with slower and atmospheric tempo changes, great melodies that will play with your emotions. The mood continues in A Sign In Time but the next track, Bonded, sounds completely different to the previous two songs. Very slow and depressive vibes mixed with soft and delicate vocal arrangements. It only shows how versatile this band can be and how excellent V Rex’s vocal abilities are phenomenal. I could easily spend time writing about each song but I think the album works well as a whole thing. You’ll have to listen to it from start to finish to appreciate the greatness and timelessness of this music.
I’m still in great shock about the fact that this music was never officially released and I think if it had been released at that time, it would have been as huge and influential as aforementioned examples from other Norwegian bands. If I had to point out the most special moments on this record it would be the last three songs. Path of Sorrow, over an eight minute intro Hymn Des Morts Pt. II that will take you to some dark places you’ve never been before and the ending song Den Gamle Manns Profetier is a pure black metal extravaganza. What a way to finish the album!
I really hope that Örth’s Nocturno Inferno will get the attention and recognition it truly deserves. I’d love to hear this material in full on the stage some day. The album is like a ritual, it needs to be played to the masses. I’m sure that there will be lot of people talking about this album as soon as it’s released. This record is the reason why I’ve stepped on the path of black metal. Nocturno Inferno is one of the best things you’ll hear in a long time
THE GOAT TAVERN 