NOCTURNUS

"Nocturnus" is a 2-track, 10:33 minutes long EP release by US, Florida based death metal act Nocturnus. The EP was released in 1993 through Moribund Records. The EP was originally released on 7´inch vinyl, but was re-released as a CD single in 2001. The Nocturnus EP was the last release by Nocturnus before they split-up the first time. Nocturnus had enjoyed great (underground) success with their two full-length studio albums "The Key (1990)" and "Thresholds (1992)" but internal turmoil within the ranks of the band meant that guitarists Mike Davis and Sean McNenney, and keyboard player Louis Panzer went behind the back of drummer and founding member Mike Browning, and secured the rights to the Nocturnus name. Shortly after Mike Browning was fired from the band he had help to found. Mike Browning´s fascination with the occult supposedly didn´t fit well with the sci-fi theme that the rest of the band were aiming at.

That explanation is a bit hard to understand if you listen to the two tracks on this EP though. Both "Possess The Priest" and "Mummified" are pretty old school styled death metal tracks, albeit a bit more progressive in sound than usual for the style with the addition of keyboards and some relatively technical playing. The tracks also feature some pretty old school death metal lyrics. The sci-fi themes from the full-length albums are gone. While the tracks are certainly well played, I can´t help but notice that the band sound a bit tired. The two tracks here are not that interesting either. At least compared to the brilliant material on the two full-length albums. The sound production is a bit sub par too, if compared to the sound productions on the preceding releases.

The "Nocturnus" EP is not a release which is very interesting nor does it show any progression from "Thresholds (1992)". Rather it´s a release that shows the sad end to one of the most unique death metal acts from the late 80s/early 90s. Nocturnus should probably just have went out on a high with "Thresholds (1992)". A 2.5 star (50%) rating is warranted.