one-person black metal: Nocturne(U.S.): "Ave Noctem"

one-person black metal: Nocturne(U.S.): "Ave Noctem"

A person reportedly named Dan Klein (if that is a real name), who is said to be from Chicago (if that is a real place), seemingly plays all the instruments on this album.

(including real drums? not programmed drums?)

"So, this is 'bedroom black metal with a very garage sound'"?-- someone might ask.

Well, well, well, actually....no!!

Mr. Klein sounds like a band. I thought this was a band, and then I noticed that it is one person.

Whoah! That's a great success!

The sound, I would say, is a prog, slightly dissonant, distant, unmelodic black metal. The sound quality is not "big-time metal," but it is pretty decent, and pretty clear in a black metal context.

I have listened to this album a lot. I have concluded that Mr. Klein is a dedicated and talented person, and I'm sure, I know!, this was no one-week endeavor.

So, with that, I hate to say the following, because it will sound that I am nonchalantly, and light-mindedly dismissing Nocturne.

But I am not. I have truly listened to this and I appreciate the effort.

But I have to say that, even after repeated listens for weeks on end, these songs have not excited me. To my ears, something is missing. What's missing?

I think everything about the album is good.

However, I think I would have appreciated more direct riffs. There's no need to change the style, but all the riffs keep my understanding at a distance, and it is necessary to incorporate some hooks, or other things.

More hooks.

Solos, maybe?

more melody?

more change between midtempo and fast?

Maybe a bit of all those things. But, more than anything, how about throwing a few hooks my way?

I'm not a musician and I don't listen to music for musicians.

I like metal; metal for normal, people-on-the-street metal.

Mr. Klein,

Good work, love the effort!

Maybe you want to throw us a few more hooks our way?

We need something to headbang, something to remember, something to rock, or at least to nod along.

Sincerely,

A person with no musical talent whatsoever.

www.facebook.com/NocturneChicago