Germany’s gothic melodic black metal pioneers Nachtblut (Night Blood) release their seventh studio album `Todschick` this month which translates to either Dead Chic, Dead Smart or Dressed To Kill. The album follows on from their last release `Vanitas` which came out in October 2020. The latest offering sees the band expanding their repertoire, incorporating various stylistic elements and synthesizer sounds, paying tribute to the 1980s. This variability, a staple of the band’s style, merges seamlessly with their signature dark metal elements and Askeroth’s distinctive vocals.
I must confess that I was taught French and not German at school so my grasp of German runs to Guten Tag, Auf Wiedersehen and Prost and as this album is sung in German my thoughts are restricted as to how it sounds and the little I’ve read about the tracks.
The album opens with `Von Hass Getrieben` or `Driven By Hate` which opens with a kind of haunting dissolute feel with bells ringing before vocals join and the number has a marching rhythmic feel. The track feels quite reflective and contemplative and not hostile as the title would suggest. A church organ sound follows before a brief guitar solo and harmonic deep vocals lead us along and out of this offering. There`s a more blistering rock out with The title track `Todschick which may be dressed to kill. There are enticing melodic synths and a steady driving drum beat with powerful riffs that I read embrace the inevitability of death while redefining the beauty of darkness.
`Nachtgeweiht` or `Night Consecrated` opens with a real shimmer, a musical box like sound and choral harmonies as it kind of rolls along with an understated symphonic ambience which does seem to suggest something hallowed or devoted. There`s a more melodic texture to `Das Leben der Anderen` or `The Lives of Others` which I read criticises modern societal ills like doom-scrolling through social media. It`s a nigh on spoken word submission with some guttural screams shared throughout. A kind of frustration seems to pervade the vocal delivery on this number which builds to a climax as it progresses.
`Manchmal Kommen Sie Wieder` or `Sometimes They Come Back` explores the eternal cycles of creation, destruction, and war. A synth driven piece that feels delightfully meditative. A much more powerful pulsing hard rock tone envelops `Mein Ist Die Hölle` or `Mine Is Hell` with harsh vocal tones driving it along.
`Götterstille` is a further robust and vigorous listen and for me was a rousing address, a kind of anthemic stirring call to arms. The was a supernatural or unearthly sense about `Kinder Des Zorns` or `Children of the Corn` which had a fast paced racing hard riff tempo.
`Stirb Langsam` or `Die Hard` references the action film and was said to be a humorous celebration of escapism, which conceals a sharp message which sadly for me was lost in my lack of ability to translate. It has a rousing feel and conveys a pirate or folky air. A good drinking song in my opinion. The final offering comes with `Schneller Als Der Tod` or `Faster Than Death` on which the band ventures into entirely new musical territory, seamlessly merging epic wild west elements with the powerful sounds of dark metal. It ends with a strummed guitar and whistling, which was perfectly entertaining. A delightful blend of styles which I thought was wonderfully alluring.
The quartet of Askeroth (vocals), Greif (guitar), Ablaz (bass) and Skoll (drums) who make up Nachtblut have delivered in `Todschick` a really enticing and enveloping mix of melodic gothic hard rock with vocals that vary from melodious to more aggressive throaty and guttural but really draw you into their layers of sound.
An album that should by rights bring them a wider audience and deserved recognition.
Rating 9/10
