Album Review: Nightfall Upon the Asylum by Drama Noir (Floga Records)

Immerse yourself in the dark and atmospheric symphonic black metal world of Drama Noir as they unveil their highly anticipated third full-length album, Nightfall Upon The Asylum, set to be released on May 3rd, 2023, through Floga Records.

Hailing from Greece, this talented band delivers a haunting and powerful experience for fans of Katavasia, Synteleia, Yoth Iria, and Kawir. Drama Noir formed in 2017 by guitarist and orchestrator Mephisto, and have been working hard to evolve into the band we see and hear today. Recorded and produced by Mephisto and Psychon, with lyrics by Apostolos Oroklos, “Nightfall Upon The Asylum” stands as a testament to Drama Noir’s dedication to their craft. The album’s artwork and layout, designed by Jon Toussas (Graphic No Jutsu), perfectly encapsulate the enigmatic aura that permeates the music.

With two albums under their belt in their debut, Princess-Airam and the follow up, A Necromancy Lore, as well as a split release with Morgenröthe, Drama Noir are ready to showcase their growth as musicians and composers with Nightfall Upon the Asylum.

Drama Noir is Tenevris on vocals, Mephisto on guitars and orchestrations, Vampyrpriest on guitars, Peisithanatos on bass, and the steadfast Yngve on drums.

The album features nine tracks, including the already-released single “Risen To Avenge” and the “The Quest Of The Unknown Kaddath.”

We get underway with an intro track titled Intro, so no ambiguity there at least. This is symphonic black metal, and so I guess I am really looking for an introduction that really sets the scene and gets me excited and that is what I get. At around 2 minutes long, it is purely orchestral, gothic and dark with deep tones and layered choirs. It builds as the track grows and very early on, you feel well embedded within the darkness. When, out of the blue, the drums and riffs appear with a crash at around 20 seconds to go, the feeling of excitement ramps up massively. Thats a strong way to start an album.

284 Green Street Avenue is my first real glimpse of the band and this song is fire. The title appears to reference the address for the famed Enfield Haunting, if you are wondering where the name comes from. In fact all of the songs appear to reference something from literature or tv and film, I think.

Huge riffs backed by intense and grandiose orchestral elements, a roar and wicked drumming kick things off. I love the lead vocals, they are so dark and deep, full of power and depth. It’s a very heavy start, leaning much more on the aggressive side of black metal with the symphony used to add a foundation layer. The flow of this song is mesmerising, it just transitions so smoothly between verses and chorus and instrumental breaks. The solo is absolutely brilliant, the harmonising guitars are wonderful to listen to as is the sudden orchestral and melodic section that follows. The rasping vocals that scream out over the gentle backing is devilish and danegrous, and of course it all gently builds up, getting darker and darker and just really holding your attention throughout.

It’s jaw dropping stuff really. What start to the album this is! Now I feel like I know a bit about Drama Noir, I feel in tune with their style and sound so cannot wait to crack on with Nightfall Upon the Asylum.

Risen to Avenge and Vultu Tenebrarum are up next and keep the quality up. Risen to Avenge has a glorious symphonic intro that turns into a mesmerising guitar hook. I am really getting some modern Cradle of Filth vibes from the sound, and the guitars, and I mean that in a very positive way, being a huge admirer of Cradle of Filth. The combinations of frentic drumming, blackened riffs and vicious vocals with the choirs and symphony is a sound I will never get bored of. Vultu Tenebrarum comes with a slower, dark, layered sound. The vocals are excellent, I love the additional tones used in the backing and must again point out the drums which are just amazing.  Chuck in heavy riffs and symphonic layers and you have another top quality track that is sure to excite.

Blood Wedding is the catchiest son of a bitch you may hear this year. That intro, the drums and riffs hammering away with the choir backing and symphonic tinge, it is aggressive, heavy and a real mosh pit mover. The pace and energy in this one is absolutely killer with wicked instrumentation and a song flow that just appeals. This is probably my favourite so far on an album full of favourites.

Nightfall Upon the Asylum continues on and continues to offer up variety and creativity with Sheppard of the Lost starting with an almost folkish acoustic melody. The orchestral sounds join in, setting a foreboding scene. You feel on edge, waiting for it to transform but Drama Noir really tease us here with the transition going instead into a haunting whispering section first and then, with a roar, into a grooving, stop start section with blasting drums and riffs backed by choirs and symphony.

This song is so cool. It has so much going on, so much we haven’t heard before on this album. The slow stomping dark groove is infectious, a clean vocals section delivered like a prayer or chant has real impact and if anything, makes the super powerful growls seem even more powerful when contrasted to the cleans. The blasting drums over slow violins is a wonderful sound, this is amazing stuff and really demands full focus and attention.

The Quest of the Unknown Kaddath comes next. Presumably connected to HP Lovecraft’s story, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, it is another fiery number with banging riffs and drums, vicious vocals and layers upon layers of symphonic foundation. There are some nice vocal switches later in the song and a really neat solo that perfectly fits the songs mood. The penultimate track is called The Ghost Ship and it’s a shorter but as effective number with just some really great metal on display. The drums are killer, the bass is thick and the riffs are made for headbanging too. The energy on this one is up, driven forward by quickly delivered vocals that are about as demonic and aggressive as you could ever hope for.

We reach the end of this absolute stunner of an album with the title track, Nightfall Upon the Asylum. I’m sad to reach the end but excited to see how Drama Noir are going to close this out. Unsurpirsingly, it is absolutely killer and being a longer track at over 6 minutes, we get a lot of bang for our buck. Everything I have come to love over the album is present. The wonderful song composition and flow, the layers of symphony, intense drumming, spine shuddering bass, massive riffs and leads and of course insanely powerful vocals. There is a chaotic solo, instrumental sections where the guitars and drums take over and get necks working and slow stomping sections that will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.

Drama Noir have delivered an absolute beast of an album in Nightfall Upon the Asylum. I am blown away. I love it. There was not a single second of filler, not a moment of weakness – it is intensely creative and exciting throughout. There is so much talent in this band, clearly, and everything and everyone has a place and a purpose. The drums and vocals stand out to me in particular but the bass, the guitars, the orchestration – nothing works unless all of it works. In that, the thing that really stands out the most is how well put together each individual song is with them all having a very clear identity yet fitting perfectly together on the album. Make no mistake, this is one of the best albums you are likely to hear this year so don’t miss out.

Drama Noir Links

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