Nocturnus - The Key (1990)

Artist: Nocturnus

Release Title: The Key

Release Type: Full Length Album

Release Year: 1990

Artist Genre: Death Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Lake Of Fire 2. Standing In Blood 3. Visions From Beyond The Grave 4. Neolithic 5. Undead Journey (Bonus Track) 6. Before Christ/After Death 7. Andromeda Strain 8. Droid Sector 9. Destroying The Manger 10. Empire Of The Sands
Total playing time 44:00

My interest in Death Metal has dwindled over the years and I barely have much use for the subgenre anymore but I do make an exception with a couple of bands. One being Nocturnus. This debut from the band has real lasting value as it doesn't stray from the thrash ideals like so many Death Metal bands did at the turn of the 90's as most of them went into highlighting the zombie vomiting vocals and the tickticktick grindcore drumming and detracting from what makes extreme metal so bloody nifty in the first place. Riffs! and shoving as many of them down your throat until you pass out or die from a heart attack i.e Darkness Descends, Pleasure To Kill, Hell Awaits etc.

Not only is this following on in the footsteps of the first death metal releases, Possessed's "Seven Churches" and Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" in keeping the thrash ideals, it also has an awesome knack for technical prowess. There's always some new thing happening during the songs and you don't have to grin and bear a passage for too long if it's not your cupajoe. Most of the songs are really memorable especially the chorus and riffs of "Lake Of Fire" and "Before Christ/After Death" and the thrash breaks in "Andromeda Strain" and the bonus track "Undead Journey". Also the vocals whilst gutteral aren't too loud in the mix and detracting from the guitars like so many other death metal bands do. This is just a model exhibit of greatness from the subgenre. Pity more death metal bands didn't take a leaf out of their book...