Sometimes it's totally bizarre how something gets released. This is the feeling I get when listening to Italian gothic black metal band Novgorod's sole demo tape 'In My Eyes the Black Light of Sun'.

When thinking about compositions here, they aren't that bad. But the drumming is the worst ever I have heard on any released piece of music. This wasn't even put out by the band themselves but Northern Darkness Records, which wasn't the most amateurish of all labels. Professionally printed 3-fold cover and tape: Not bad. The cover painting is probably stolen from somewhere, but the lyrics are in. Swell.

"Obscure omens of diabolic summer
In my eyes the black light of sun
In my hands the grey sand of sea
On the crystal surface of water
Infinite red roses petals
As damned souls which crowd"

Again, not bad. Tape in, press play. A listener is greeted with a fucking lame melody and blastbeat drums that drag like hell! 25 seconds in and the beat changes into regular rock one, and even then, the drummer drags. This is a huge obstacle to climb over, if one's about to listen to this demo. It doesn't get any better during these 24 minutes. Maybe the person hitting them drums was drunk or something, but it makes me wonder why the heck didn't other guys use a drum machine.

The music is dramatic-coloured gothic black metal. I guess Cradle Of Filth (it's still weird, that 'Dusk and Her Embrace' was put out in November 1996, so probably this was created before or simultaneously with that legendary album; similarities are definitely there) and similar gothic, symphonic and theatrical acts inspired Novgorod. Power chords and lacerating tremolo playing take parts, as well as nice lead guitar melodic weaving and calmer (semi-) acoustic guitar moments. There are quite a lot of various movements and sections, from aggressive to melancholic. Big organ synthesizer and other carpet-sounds are used to bring majestic vibes in. As a whole, it just plays on, and sometimes there's a really good-sounding part, giving a small reward.

The production is rather clear, but the tape format brings i hiss. And yes, this is a demo, so it is futile to expect anything shiny. It is totally okay for what it is; probably a rehearsal place 4-tracker recording. Oh, the vocals... They are demonic barking and screaming done powerful way and not always with similar tone or emphasis. They are behind most of the instruments, but they feel creepy that way.

I personally cannot tolerate off-time drumming. But then why do I have this?! Well, it was very cheap and I decided get it. And for some weird reason, I can listen to this without puking. Anyway, the drum performance drastically brings down the score. But there is some attractiveness in here, and I think it is the atmosphere and genuinely good parts and flow that still make this worthwhile for fans of the style.

Rating: 4 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/05/2022 19:31