So, my old cd buying addiction which I've really gotten a good hold of over the last couple of years reared its ugly head on the weekend. Plus, you guys are very influential and I trust your opinions and judgement with the utmost respect. I was out on the weekend and went into JB (cd store) really to see if I could get a copy of the Fifth Angel. I noticed that for the entire weekend they had 20% off cd's.
I managed to get a copy of the Fifth Angel and also grabbed the newest Behemoth (really liked the last one). As I was looking down the metal section in alphabetical order I got to W and saw Nocturnes and Requiems. I picked it up and looked at it's lovely packaging and wonderful artwork. I put it down and thought about my comments I've just posted here about it and my opinions. Kept looking as I was waiting for my gf who was browsing in another store and was meeting me where I was and she arrived, 'let's go', I'll' just pay for these,' I said and as I walked my hand took on a mind of its owned reached back in and picked up the album and kept walking. If they had the new one, I probably would have gotten that too. I don't know why I felt the need to buy it, but that's that.
Anyway, I cranked it in the car and on the first listen I found it better than I remembered. The Nevermore references are strong but not as blatant or offensive as I once thought. The verse riff of Portrait told me right away why I felt like I needed to persist with these guys. The song structures are quite bizarre IMO and it all kind of feels like a whole at the moment. Hard to distinguish between the tracks. Anyway, I'm actually really enjoying it a lot. I wish there were more hooks but I think the songs will open up more the more I listen. They are a very talented band, and what they are doing is actually very unique IMO.