In good Order Of Nosferat tradition, 2024 also brings us two full-length albums, albeit narrowly. ‘The Absence Of Grace’ we could already welcome in March, this latest album however, with a release date of December 25th, really falls on the edge of last year. It is a tradition, by the way, that breaks down many bands, if not by inner struggles then at least by a significant drop in quality; usually such a pace of releasing is not a good sign. This Finnish/German duo doesn’t seem to be bothered by it all though, this sixth album in four years, on which it may be noted that 2023 only saw a split CD, actually shows just the opposite: the band seems to be taking a firmer musical course and the result is also more convincing than ever.
In those four years that the band has bombarded us with new material with great regularity, Order Of Nosferat has shown that they are increasingly tightening and solidifying their musical formula. Their blend of Black Metal and Dungeon Synth, while good, sometimes tended to sound inconsistent on the first albums. That slight imperfection seems completely smoothed out on “Towards The Nightrealm Of Orlok,” though. Now that both genres melted together more efficiently, the music guides you through the album is an almost soothing way. Even in the faster parts, like the more traditional sounding ‘Into Pale Shadows And Ghostly Dreams’, the album still has a bit of a romantic feeling – quite fitting to their Gothic Horror concept.
Although both comparisons were already evident on previous recordings, musically Order Of Nosferat puts themselves even more firmly in between Drowning The Light and Evilfeast. Sporting the same sort of guitar tone as well as the same sort of melodies and overall song writing. The keyboards deserve a separate mention, as they carry much of the music’s atmosphere and overall spirit: the vampiric concept of loneliness, sadness and romanticism.
While most people who have heard the band’s previous recordings will recognize Order Of Nosferat in this new offering, it is quite clear that the band has taken their music up a level. This means that those who liked the band before will definitely love this album as much (or even more), but those who were not really convinced yet should give the band another shot. And, judging from the increasing quality on offer, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the band return this year with yet another upgrade of their musical vision.
