This is Season of the Wolf’s third album. Their self-titled debut is something I just recently discovered and I got completely drawn into the Sabbath-esuqe mood, peculiar sounds, rocking riffs and occult, haunting themes. Not much changed between 1996 and this, although it’s safe to say that they have progressed towards an even richer sound that is surprisingly hard to describe in words.

Nocturnal Revelation, compared to their debut at 30 minutes, is clocking in at nearly an hour. This is a bit weirder than earlier, as cosmic sounds surround every song with immense and hazy presence. Just as distinct is vocalist Wes Waddell whose piercing wails rips through the visual image. Nocturnal Revelation starts off with rocker New Age Revolution, which more or less represents what these guys are doing and earned them their reputation as a new age metal-band. Riffs are flying; weird keyboard-sounds oozes like smoke through every crack in the ground and Waddell soars like an eagle above. Dead Zone more or less progresses in the same path where Barry Waddell makes sure to carve out some really kick-ass riffs just to make sure that these guys would be a respected heavy metal band without all the spacey stuff.

Speaking of spacey, enter Quilex, tuning the tempo down a notch, with still brilliant riffs and mystic vocal lines. Sonic noises keep you hooked and high as perhaps the most brilliant lead sections and trade-offs of the album kicks in. The title-track will lead you into weirder and weirder territory where some of might fall off the wagon.

The opening quartet is pretty damn awesome and straight-forward considering where Seasons of the Wolf true prowess lies. They are in other words pretty easy to headbang along to. Dance of a Thousand Veils however leads down a darker, scarier, foggier path amplified by the ceremonial feel Liar brings to the altar. Strangely anthemic Magnetic Star, brings you further into the abyss, creating an aura only Mercyful Fate does better. To be honest progressive doom metal would be an appropriate tag from here on out in good old Sabbath-y fashion, climaxing on the awesomely titled Skull which brings some of the best heavy metal riffage I’ve heard in a good while.

Nocturnal Revelations is no easy album to get to know. I started this review several months ago, and just couldn’t finish it earlier due to its weirdness and me not being in the mood. However, sitting down after a long hard day with the riffs of instrumental Dark and Lonely Depths, guitar solo of Storm of the Century and the devouring cosmos of more or less every song here and letting them embrace you brings a feeling of strange ease. Granted, this is trippy as hell in places, but let it sink in and you’ll fucking love it. I promise.