Artist: Noctis Bellum
Country: USA
Label: Torture Palace Productions
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2026
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was Vargrav and Evilfeast who, with their respective ‘Netherstorm’ (2018) and ‘Elegies Of The Stellar Wind’ (2017) single-handedly put Melodic and Symphonic Black Metal back on the map, but I’ve always felt that those two albums contributed significantly to the re-acceptance of Black Metal’s more melodic side. Perhaps also as a logical counterpoint to the Lo-Fi Black Metal trend that was raging at the time. Be that as it may, Vargrav has never quite reached the heights of ‘Netherstorm’ and we are still waiting for Evilfeast’s new album, so the baton has more or less been passed on to other bands who are devoted to the genre.
There was a time when bands like Dimmu Borgir and Ancient were laughed at, and albums by Limbonic Art, Obtained Enslavement, Hecate Enthroned, and Odium were left in the bargain bins. Those times have certainly changed; not only have more bands emerged from the underground scene embracing this symphonic sound, but it is labels such as Werewolf Records that have played a major part in the overall resurgence of melody in Black Metal. Larger labels such as Avantgarde Music also got in on the act with a band like Moonlight Sorcery. Now that even Century Media has caught the scent of big money, the major label is jumping on this bandwagon with the mediocre Worm.
Those who dig deeper will also find little gems like Noctis Bellum, first started as the solo project by an anonymous person who calls himself Angeldestruction Von Ravenwing and is also active in such bands as Bereft Raven, Vehmgericht and the very interesting Traum. The band already released a debut demo in 2024, aptly titled ‘The Grandiose Nightsky Requiem’ and now follows it up with a 2-track promo tape. Its predecessor already was an excellent display of musicianship, ‘Promo 2026’ is even better. Basically just as Worm, Noctis Bellum embraces the Heavy Metal-driven sort of Melodic Black Metal, yet Noctis Bellum doesn’t only packs the tracks to the brim with leads and clever dynamics, it still has a thoroughly rough edge to it. And that’s where the wheat is separated from the chaff. Whilst many of their peers sound soulless or hide behind thick layers of synthesisers and ostentatious bombast, Noctis Bellum sound like a real band that can hold their own perfectly well without resorting to all sorts of studio tricks. Even better than before, in fact. Thanks in part to drummer Gostyr (Bereft Raven and Vehmgericht), who recently joined the line-up, the sense of diversity and dynamism has been enhanced and the tracks feel stronger and more coherent.
These two tracks are said to reappear on the forthcoming Noctis Bellum debut album which will be titled ‘Crepuscule’. If the rest of the album will be as good as these two tracks, I have all reasons to believe that it will be a spectacular record.
