Album Review: Carpe Noctem – Vitrun (code666)

The Icelandic black metal scene isn’t one that is talked about often but it has some stellar bands creeping around the underground. A scene that features familiar faces under different guises, and that is no different for Carpe Noctem. Uniting members of Misþyrming, Naðra and Árstíðir lífsins, Carpe Noctem is an altogether dangerous yet refined beast.

Their second album, Vitrun takes all the elements of their debut and pushes them to extremes. It will be released on October 5th 2018 via code666.

Frigid coldness and howling winds that chill to the bone, Vitrun is a black metal experience that will leave you feeling as though you’ve walked through a snowstorm. Battered around, blind to anything not directly in front of you and the creeping feeling that this might mean the end for you.

Six tracks of dark and horrifying black metal, played in a style that can be best described as frantic. Unfortunately, there’s little that really stands out. It’s solid, good and strong metal with tempo shifts, moments of dark-filled effects and even some rhythm but it’s about as fresh as a dead skunk that has been in the sun for 2 weeks.

It’s not an album trying to win over new fans but rather to cement Carpe Noctem’s position as one of Iceland best black metal offerings. The highlight comes in the form of the hellacious Og Hofið Fylltist Af Reyk. A track that is as much about eerie and uncomfortable bleakness as it is about ‘in your face’ pounding metal.

It’s the one that will be remembered afterwards. It’s just a pity that the rest doesn’t quite have the same effect.

Carpe Noctem – Vitrun Full Track Listing:

1. Söngurinn Sem Ómar Á Milli Stjarnanna
2. Upplausn
3. Og Hofið Fylltist Af Reyk
4. Hér Hvílir Bölvun
5. Úr Beinum Og Brjóski
6. Sá Sem Slítur Vængi Flugunnar Hefur Náð Hugljómun

You can order the album here and via Bandcamp here. Check out Carpe Noctem on Facebook and YouTube.