ALBUM REVIEW: An Outlaw’s Stand – Nocturnal Graves

Blasting its way across the world from the South Eastern Australian state of Victoria comes a relentless force of blistering speed and brutality in the form of NOCTURNAL GRAVES. Having gained a reputation touring with bigger bands in the scene, the Australian band of outlaws are fast making themselves a heavyweight in the Australian and global scene. An Outlaw’s Stand is their fourth album and encompasses eight tracks of truly evil black and death metal, fixating on apocalyptic, occult and satanic themes. With a bombardment of riffs and rhythms, An Outlaw’s Stand makes the band’s intentions clear, they are taking no prisoners on their quest for global domination. 

From the very first second of Death To Pigs you’re thrust into a chaotic, destructive and frenzied world of fire and brimstone. This explosive introduction works well and sets out the intent of the album from the off. An Outlaw’s Stand is packed full of the band’s trademark ruthless energy – enough to launch you straight into the ninth circle of Dante’s Inferno and back. The visceral anger that is contained in the death metal infused black metal riffs is palpable. However, after the first listen through that is where the excitement stops. The album is a perfectly serviceable dose of black/death metal but in comparison to the band’s previous offerings, it feels formulaic and uninspired.

Standing next to 2017s Satan’s Cross and the band’s world beating 2013 debut …From The Bloodline Of Cain, An Outlaw’s Stand falls somewhat short of the mark. There seems to be no discernible fire in the album’s belly, and NOCTURNAL GRAVES have lost their rugged edge slightly. The songs themselves feel drawn out and tired. The band once capitalised on contrasting dynamic shifts between skull splitting thrash, squealing lead sections and the deep depths of sludgy doom. An Outlaw’s Stand mainly sits in the middle throughout its entirety, which in turn can make the album feel quite monotonous in certain parts, as it recycles the same song structure elements and stereotypical black metal tropes. In a genre that is quickly evolving for a new generation, packed with new intrigue and conceptual focus, it is an unfortunate shame that An Outlaw’s Stand sounds so dated and bland. 

Despite this, there are some glimpses of the NOCTURNAL GRAVES of old later on in the album; Beyond The Flesh captures the thrill and fury of blackened speed metal with soaring solos leading into a sludgy half time doom section that could move mountains, and Across The Acheron offers a similar solo whilst branching out conceptually into Greek mythology. The album’s title track is rooted deep in icy black metal atmospheres, with a slower middle section that thrusts you into scenes belonging to a bleak and long winter.

Even so, the album overall lacks the creative muster of the band’s previous albums, despite the consistent high standard and quality of the band’s musicianship. The lack of musical variety leaves little for the listener to really engage with and latch onto. With the paint-by-numbers satanic concepts that repeat things that we’ve heard time and time again, it leaves little room for any listener exploration or interest. In a world where extreme music is adapting and evolving, it would be a fair assumption that An Outlaw’s Stand would fail to stand out among its contemporaries. 

It seems like a contradiction in terms that NOCTURNAL GRAVES, who are on a significant upward trajectory in the extreme metal scene, has released something that failed to even brush the lofty heights of their previous work. Whilst the band do not lack any music skill or determination to succeed, An Outlaw’s Stand sounds like they have simply run out of creative steam. 

Rating: 4/10

An Outlaw’s Stand is set for release on January 7th via Season Of Mist.

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