Order of Nosferat – The Absence of Grace (Review)

This is the fifth album from international black metal band Order of Nosferat.

I was introduced only last year to Order of Nosferat on their split with Lunar Spells, and I fell for them hard. Given the chance to explore a full album of their vampiric black metal supremacy, how could I resist?

The Absence of Grace is a synth-driven slice of old-school black metal. The songs are drenched in atmospheric synths, and the album also has a synth intro, three interludes, and an outro. This leaves us five actual songs out of the ten tracks. Normally I’d be hypercritical of something like this, but Order of Nosferat pull it off remarkably well. There’s just something very endearing, engaging, and nostalgically authentic about the synths that I just eat it all up.

As for the songs themselves, these are well-crafted and structured by hands that clearly know their art. Atmospheric and venomous, the black metal is professionally wrought, while still having the bite of the underground. Their main focus is an atmospheric one, immersing the listener in the macabre blackened feel of ancient darkness. The songs are sorrowful and dark, telling a tale of ages lost and blood wept. Unlike previous releases, it’s not all about vampirism for Order of Nosferat on The Absence of Grace, and instead the entire album is soaked through with forlorn hopelessness and a lonesome grandeur that’s compelling.

Order of Nosferat have impressed with their atmospheric, feeling-rich take on old-school black metal. If you’re partial to this form of blackened art, then The Absence of Grace is one you should definitely spend some time with.

Very highly recommended.