Unless you’re lucky enough to get hold of one of the original 2500 copies or one of Propaganda Records’ limited-to-666 tape reissues, then finding a copy of Hora Nocturna is going to be difficult. Yet I can wholly recommend the experience, as a part-time collector of Black Metal obscurities, few impulse buys have been quite so awesome as this. Hora Nocturna is a furious blast of real, true Black Metal, an epic, raging storm that grips you and never lets go for the running duration. The German band features a female vocalist/guitarist, and you’d never be able to tell that Onielar is a woman, such is the necrotic wrath that echoes from her throat. Every strand that makes up this dark thread is excellent, from the surprisingly melodic sections to the total heaviness, the drums (provided by Michael Pelkowski of tech-Deathers Pavor) a perfect storm, the production absolutely amazing.

All in all this is a less markedly epic Emperor, with a similar intensity to the Norwegians’ early work yet with absolutely no keyboards to be found – DNS are of the ‘true fucking Black Metal’ variety, and live up to their standards with admirable single-mindedness. Opening torrent Das All-Ein is surprisingly melodic, drums raging yet kept behind the twisted tunes emanating from the guitar. It is but an introduction, however, the following snappily-titled track Tempestuous Sermonisers Of Forthcoming Death taking the intensity to new levels and even bringing drum rolls into its quest for Black Metal dominance. Throughout the album, songwriting is well-paced, the band not afraid of bringing the occasional catchy part into their sound if need be, although if you’re into the catchier side of Metal in general, accepting the likes of Bearer Of Blackest Might as ‘catchy’ will be tough.

Yet those of you out there in search of fresh meat for your Black Metal souls will certainly enjoy this slice of kvltness, even if it’s not quite the greatest thing you’ve ever heard. Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult certainly know how to set you up for some serious headbanging, the breakdown in Unearthing Cosmic Decay alone causing considerable neck damage in these parts. That the atmospheric wailing and growling of the title track is actually pretty darn creepy just goes to show that this band have what it takes, although it is just an interlude before the darkness blasts its way back into your consciousness with Malignant Deathcult. You even get a mid-track percussive breakdown, complete with acoustic strums that turn nasty and cruel the moment that the song turns back to Black Metal; it’s certainly enough to certify the band’s experimental credentials without losing them the kvlt card, and it’s that latter element which stamps the ultimate impression onto your brain.

Where you or I breathe, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult are kvlt, and they’re good enough to make it an enjoyable experience. The band have been through two albums before this, and the formula has been worked into something that true Black Metal fans will have heard before, but will enjoy hearing again. This band don’t destroy any boundaries, but they do channel the power and intensity of classic Black Metal through an enjoyable prism, enough to make Hora Nocturna a kickass album if not a vital one.