Necronautical - Slain in the Spirit (2021)

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Unraveling a very powerful and yet engaging Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal release, today we have UK’s Necronautical and their crushing “Slain in the Spirit”. Perfectly blending elements from the early days of Dimmu Borgir, Old Man’s Child, and Emperor, this release balances nostalgia with excellent craftsmanship and brilliant execution for nearly one hour of high-octane music.

Opening with the blistering “Ritual & Recursion”, the listener is treated to pummeling drums and intense synths, creating a very hectic tempo as the harsh screams roll in. There is a certain sinister vibe that the riffing of “Occult Ecstatic Indoctrination” creates, and is nicely flanked by crafty tempo changes, piercing guitar leads and dramatic vocal arrangements. The combination of female operatic clean vocals alongside the harsh screams creates a very playful and effective dynamic.

We particularly enjoyed tracks like “Hypnagogia” and “Necropsychonautics”, that remind us of the late 2000’s Sympho/Melodic BM releases, while other songs like “Pure Consciousness Event” perfectly balance a slower pace with furious onslaughts and cathartic moments. One of our personal favorite tracks has to be the riveting “Contorting in Perpetuity” and its engaging vocal arrangements paired with a very fantastic and yet simple melodic core.

Closing with the heaviness of the band’s Slayer cover of “Disciple”, the band showcases a heavier and more direct side to themselves. Overall, “Slain in the Spirit” is a brilliantly crafted release that showcases the band’s versatility and skills. We particularly loved how it has a certain old-school, if you can call the late 2000’s that, Sympho/Melodic Black Metal vibe, as the songs are both melodic and heavy. If you like bands like Old Man’s Child, Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, etc., you will love this release.

Band: Necronautical Album: Slain in the Spirit

Label: Candlelight Records

Release: February 5th, 2021

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Genre: Melodic/Symphonic Black Metal

Country: UK

Rating: 96/100
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