Italian/German outfit Noctivagum came to life in 2025 to play black metal and that shows. While style and genre can be discussed, quality cannot, and Noctivagum have a very long way to go to attain such a crucial characteristic. We were quite puzzled upon hearing the first and second track of De Arcanis et Ritibus Sulphuris, so much so that we resourced to Metal Archives to find a bit more info about the band, expecting it to be either a newcomer, or at the very least a band trying to mimick the great, underground extreme metal names of the early 1990s, like Varathron, Vorphalack, or Kawir (because we have the deep feeling that this could be Greek, wasn’t it for such an amateurish approach). The band is neither and that spells trouble, as one concludes that what you hear is what you get.
First and foremost, what hits you hard at first listen is the production of the album. Whoever did it made a disservice to the band, as it’s grievous. This alone ruins the album to begin with. A simple example of this is that you can hear 3 (three!) different tom-tom sound ranges on the same track, and this is excruciating, it’s the opposite of good. But if this wasn’t the only problem per se to begin with, the fact that the ‘producer’ of the record is also a member of the band is troublesome. This is 2026 and the competition is insane and keeps on escalating. People aiming for a successful record must commit. They must dedicate most of their personal time and endure social and economic deprivation to achieve it and even so many times they don’t. In fewer words, and in the light of support, leave such critical things like mixing/mastering to professionals, guys.
In terms of music structure, Noctivagum are pretty much starting up. We wouldn’t be surprised to know that one of the guitar players would have less than two years practice. The most competent musician of the band is the drummer and still he sounds a bit clumsy, ‘shackled’. Vocal duties do not help. They are everywhere, at many ranges, often out of tune. Screaming, screeching, and hissing causes great effect in albums like De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. This is not it. There are some good melodic guitar parts, like the ones we hear in “Initium Caerimoniae”. They resemble some good medieval vibes (like the ones of old Sabbat or Skyclad), which are very pleasant but also very vague and short good vibes. We strongly suggest the band to practice more and be patient, as well as hire a professional producer when the time is right.
