This is the second album from UK solo black metal band Noctule.
The artist behind Noctule, (from Svalbard), brings us 39 minutes of melodic black and death metal on Extinguish Thy Flame. The music of Noctule has taken an assured step forward with this new record.
Following Noctule’s 2021 Skyrim-themed debut Wretched Abyss, Extinguish Thy Flame instead embraces an Elden Ring muse. Compared to its predecessor, this new record boasts melodic death metal highlights alongside its black metal core. The resulting music is a blend of blackened extremity that’s characterful and well-rendered.
Extinguish Thy Flame has taken the bones of its predecessor and fleshed them out. The music of Noctule sounds more confident this time around; it feels like a better reflection of the artist, bringing components together from Wretched Abyss, from Svalbard, and from the melodic strains of death metal. There’s even touches of certain aspects of power metal. The latter can be felt in many of the leads, solos, and other enrichments across the record. As potentially another way of thinking about Extinguish Thy Flame, a rough starting point might be someone like Darkest Hour at their most metallic, only with a deeply blackened heart, brighter melody, and a well-developed personality of its own.
The songs are generally a little shorter here, showcasing a refinement in songwriting. The melodies are bright and expressive, speaking of epic encounters, but without becoming sugary. Extinguish Thy Flame is satisfying and satiating. It’s also more memorable than it has any right to be, but then the artist behind Noctule knows how to write a good tune.
Extinguish Thy Flame delivers a strong collection of easily enjoyable songs. Noctule’s development continues apace, and to good effect.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 