Age of Miracles Has Passed

The terms "death metal" and "black metal" are often used interchangeably, but serious fans of extreme metal realize that they are two different (although closely related) types of music. However, many of the headbangers who are into death metal are into black metal as well, and death metal bands often tour with black metal bands. Plus, it is hardly uncommon for extreme metal bands to combine death metal and black metal, which is exactly what Lecherous Nocturne do on The Age of Miracles Has Passed. Lecherous Nocturne, an American band with a very Scandinavian-influenced approach, favors what is commonly described as "blackened death metal" -- in other words, death metal with an obvious black metal influence. How blackened is this 2008 release? Very blackened. The influence of black metal isn't a mere afterthought for the members of this South Carolina-based unit; it is an integral part of what they do on sledgehammer tracks such as "Edict of Worms," "Requiem for the Insects," "We Are as Dust," and "Death Hurts Only the Living." Lecherous Nocturne's extreme metal recipe is about 60 to 70 percent death metal and 30 to 40 percent black metal; death metal is the dominant ingredient, but black metal is certainly a prominent ingredient. Some fusions of death metal and black metal have been quite musical; melodic death metal and symphonic black metal can be an attractive combination. But Lecherous Nocturne's death metal/black metal assault is not melodic or nuanced; they always go for the jugular and make a point of being consistently harsh and consistently vicious. This 27-minute CD isn't terribly memorable; there are numerous other bands offering this type of blackened death metal, and no one will accuse Lecherous Nocturne of being groundbreaking or distinctive. Nonetheless, The Age of Miracles Has Passed is a competent and fairly well-executed example of how brutal a combination death metal and black metal can be. Alex Henderson.