Nox: Blood, Bones And Ritual Death

Blood Bones And Ritual Death is the third offering from Dutch death metal outfit Nox, who feature ex members of Centurian, Preditor, Zi Xul and Prostitute Disfigurement in their ranks. Of the six tracks on offer here, two really can only be counted as bookends to the EP, with "The Places Of Crossing" being an atmospheric guitar intro to first song proper "Blessed Is The Hand That Destroys" and "Procession Of Blood" closing the disc out with two minutes thirty of dirging guitars.

So what of the thirteen minutes worth of music in between? Well it has to said that Nox rampage their way through four wince inducing tracks of death metal brutality where singer Neils Adams utilises one of the most charismatic growls you are likely to hear, to pierce his way through the frantic riffing and percussive cacophony of Rob Oorthius and Seth van de Loo. Unlike many singers in this genre, Adams doesn't sound like he is always on the verge of losing control and his considered, yet blood curdling delivery is a real asset to the band.

The varying guitar line and tempo changes of "From Hell To Worse" set it out as the best track on this short EP, however the less compromising rampage of "Psalm 333" and the more intricate guitar work that intersperses the jack hammer drumming of "Darkness Undying" are not far behind.

Blood, Bones And Ritual Death, is an excellent slab of well thought through death metal, it's just a shame there isn't more of it!

Track Listing
1. The Place Of Crossing (intro)
2. Blessed Is The Hand That Destroys
3. From Hell To Worse
4. Psalm 333
5. Darkness Undying
6. Procession Of Blood

Added: September 4th 2010
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Nox MySpace
Hits: 2120
Language: english

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