Nocturnal

by Greg PratoAs far as rock music goes, Detroit will always be primarily associated for spawning such high-energy proto-punk bands as the Stooges and the MC5. In other words, extreme metal isn't exactly one of the area's chief music exports. But rather unexpectedly, Detroit has given birth to one of the more intense metal acts of the early 21st century, the Black Dahlia Murder, who manage to up the ante even further with their fifth release overall, 2007's Nocturnal. While death metal serves as the group's musical foundation, the Black Dahlia Murder is certainly one of the more melodic bands of the genre -- and manage to do so without forfeiting any of their metallic muscle. Blastbeats, death metal riffs, and vocals that alternate between growled and screamed (the latter a tactic which quickly became the standard of the genre), Nocturnal shows the group refining and focusing their style/sound even further, especially on such delightful little ditties as "Everything Went Black" and "I Worship Only What You Bleed." Nocturnal certainly delivers on the promise of their 2005 breakthrough, Miasma -- no abrupt "losing of the plot" here, folks.