Following on from 2022’s very impressive debut “Daughters Of The Night”, 2024 brings the equally enthralling follow-up “Of Sorcery and Darkness”. This stylish Symphonic Gothic Power Metal band from Italy have many enchanting strings to their bow and once more they are utilised perfectly throughout the album. Driven forward by the prolific guitar and songwriting talents of guitarist Hedon (otherwise known as Frederico Mondelli – Frozen Crown/Volturian), they are emphatically fronted by the commanding, dual vocal attack of Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight.

Now OK, having two singers who combine an operatic vocal with a more straight-edged Metal voice may not be unique, but unlike a band like, say, Coronatus, Nocturna have two singers with two of the most accessible, effortless deliveries you could hope for. The Metal vocals are once more concise, powerful and confident, with the operatic vocals being delivered expertly, but comfortably, never piercing or overblown. Both carry the melody lines expertly in their own style, combining perfectly on choruses and verses alike, whether solo or together.

None of this would be possible of course without Mondelli’s fabulous, energetic musical compositions, every one brimming over with thundering drums and driving bass backing his now familiar dazzling guitar style, which cleverly leaves plenty of room for the vocals to shine. This ability to showcase a vocalist (or in this case two) is something Mondelli is an absolute expert at, and again, the evidence is all over “Of Sorcery and Darkness”. Nocturna are a whirlwind of power, energy, class and melody, with the majority of tracks enhancing the band’s Symphonic/Gothic leanings with galloping, energetic Power Metal to such an accomplished extent.

Even when the band reign it in just a little, with the pounding mid-pace (for them anyway) of second track ‘Sapphire’ and closing song ‘Last Day On Earth’, the melodies and guitar lines are so utterly intoxicating that the songs hook you in immediately, begging further spins. Within Symphonic Power Metal onslaught, there’s a short, quirky, orchestral, brass-led instrumental thrown in which deliberately breaks the flow of the album and is a surprise at first, but exists as a scene-setting intro to the symphonic monster that is ‘Seven Sins’. This isn’t the longest album you’ll hear this year, but better that than an album chocked with fillers, which this album certainly is not! This is another triumph for a band easily negotiating that ‘difficult second album’ by basically releasing one that’s just as good, if not better than their debut.

(9/10 Andy Barker)

https://www.facebook.com/officialnocturna

https://scarletrecords.bandcamp.com/album/of-sorcery-and-darkness