Year of release: 2017
Label: Satanic Art Media
Rating: 7 / 10
Don't look at the release year - this is almost classic Norwegian Black Metal, recorded in 1995 and 1996 at Grieghallen. The band was formed by two members of AETERNUS and Eric "Grim", who, by the grace of Kahnwulf, is been raping angels in the underworld for years. ÖRTH was founded even before AETERNUS but recorded only this one album, and then turned into the new band named ARVAS.
I don't know why the album didn't come out at the right time. Perhaps the band was dissatisfied with the sound, which turned out to be very sloppy and squelchy - uncommon for Grieghallen. At the same time, each instrument, including the bass, is heard perfectly in it - only it is not always clear what this instrument is playing. Be that as it may, the decision not to release the album immediately after recording is wrong in my opinion. The fact is that "Nocturno Inferno" could become if not a breakthrough, then an important milestone in history. The album is divided into heart-rending pounding, which sounds rather bad, and the most wonderful, heartfelt, atmospheric riffs with a mournful feeling. It's a bit like GORGOROTH, but first of all GORGOROTH learned how to make these riffs on their second and third albums, which weren't out yet. Secondly, GORGOROTH has always preferred to operate within rigid structures, while ÖRTH have allowed their music to develop more freely. There is even a Death Metal track with hints of IMMORTAL. In general, each song on the album is somewhat similar to the work of one of the classic Norwegian bands, but ÖRTH never stooped to direct copying.
This group chose not the easiest path for themselves, making a lot of mistakes. There are enough places on the album that can cause irritation, and I won't be surprised if you don't like it. But you can't cook an omelet without breaking eggs. ÖRTH were ahead of their time, and this way of making albums came into use ten years later, if not more. The main mistake of these Norwegians is that they did not release the album right away. Nowadays, few people can be surprised by it, but it's still worth listening to - if only for the sake of the masterpiece “Bonded”.