Celestial Sword - Nocturnal Divinity

Mortiis, the creator of Dungeon Synth, once said that the essence of Black Metal lies in the ambience created, and the vibes conveyed. That Dungeon Synth sound he birthed was a bridge between Krautrock, the eerie synthesiser sound of that time, and Black Metal.

Celestial Sword take Dungeon Synth and blend it with a raw primitive Black Metal sound, and create a unique and terrifying combination. Celestial Sword has successfully used the ambient and dark overtones of Dark and Dungeon Synth to produce a nightmare inducing atmosphere. Then add raw and jagged Black Metal instrumentation and harrowing vocals, include some collaborators in the form of Nightshade, Zofie Siege, Drugoth and Ancient Iron, and you have a primal, impacting and frightening album in Nocturnal Divinity.

Nocturnal Divinity is 42 minutes long across 11 songs, which includes 2 interludes and an intro and an outro. Nocturnal Divinity is the best thing that Celestial Sword has done. His two previous full lengths, Fallen from the Astral Temple (2020), and Dawn of the Crimson Moon (2021) were solid and enjoyable ambient albums with Black Metal mixed in. However, Nocturnal Divinity is the full realisation of those ideas and efforts. The album has a stronger focus, it is more cinematic, and has a natural storytelling arc.

Other than the dark medieval and vampiric mood of the album, there is a through line of sinister Korg M1 Pole samples, which sounds like a metal pole hitting dungeon bars, or a sword striking a creaking and ancient steel door. The sound is troublesome, and it appears all over the album, between, after, and during songs. This sample ties everything together in a strong way, even though the album has a consistent tone, and style without it.

Nocturnal Divinity starts off very strong, with “Blood Moon Elegy,” and "Waves of Deafening Soliloquy,” (featuring Drugoth). The way that Celestial Sword uses his collaborators and guest musicians is effective in a songwriting sense, and to add mood and dynamics to the album. Drugoth and Zofie Siege’s vocals are contrasting, but fit within the universe that Celestial Sword has built here. It is a universe where these musicians are characters, and the listener is on a journey into the depths of medieval vampire nocturnal darkness. This is an album that is best played at night, perhaps with a full moon.

Nocturnal Divinity is not a masterpiece. Celestial Sword still has that in him. Side A is much stronger than Side B, and while the album is consistent in its sound, and style, the quality of the last few songs on Side B dips, and after the track 7 interlude, the momentum is lost a bit. Cutting “Last Dance of the Night God,” and the outro would have made the album more impactful after the brilliant “Amidst the Cold Winds of Despair and Solitude.”

Overall, you won’t hear another album like Nocturnal Divinity in 2024. Killer! And, I can not wait to hear what Celestial Sword does next.