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Metal Assault in association with CWG Magazine presents

Track Listing: Cry For Help High on Hate Nightfall No Funeral Then Fires Addicts The End Is Eternal Blood Trance Fusion Ruined Life Continuum Every Last Drop

Nachtmystium's metamorphosis from kult basement black metal act to eclectic psych-metallers is the US scene's equivalent to Ulver's stylistic path through electronic and avant-garde to the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink sound they've finally reached.

Just as Kristoffer Rygg (known as Garm in the band's early days) stripped all mystery from that formerly grim Norwegian bunch, frontman Azentrius eventually dropped the pseudonym in favor of his birth name, Blake Judd: guitarist/vocalist, Battle Kommand Records label head and hallucinogenic connoisseur. He then began to slowly but surely lift his band away from its static-encrusted roots to embrace a far more adventurous sound, but that doesn't even come close to the massive leaps he takes on his latest creation.

If Assassins: Black Meddle, Part I was a curveball to elitist USBM scenesters, then its sequel sees Judd striding off the pitcher's mound using one hand to wipe away any remaining corpsepaint from his face while the other stretches a defiant middle finger to all doubters in the stadium. Good thing he's got a team that's supportive of his decision, because aside from the wicked blasts of first track proper, "High on Hate," Addicts: Black Meddle, Part II is black metal in title only, and even that's a sly play on words in reference to Pink Floyd, one of Judd's biggest musical influences.

Much as he did with the recently reunited Twilight, Judd has basically drafted a supergroup of sorts to complete his vision, even reenlisting Jeff Whitehead (AKA Wrest of solo San Francisco horde Leviathan) on drums and Sanford Parker (producer for Yakuza, Pelican, Minsk, Lair of the Minotaur, Indian and virtually every other extreme band in the Chicago area) to twiddle knobs and contribute Moog atmospherics. Newcomer Will Lindsay, guitarist for Northwest eco-black metal quartet Wolves in the Throne Room, claims bass duties and lays down some suitably thick bottom end.

Read the rest of the review here.