Sometimes I feel that I have missed something very important, at least in a musical sense. So, I came across this album "Nocturnal Philosophy", and had to wonder. How in the Hell could I have missed SECOND TO SUN all these years? Well, the answer to that is quite easy. I am not known to be the biggest Black metal fan on the planet, let alone in my own home town. And with all the music you get to hear while reviewing you are happy that you have enough time to enjoy the updates on your own old-time favourites.

So, when our editors decided to entrust me with reviewing "Nocturnal Philosophy" they must have known they were taking a chance. But, as I also have CDs of bands like CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR and DARK FUNERAL, plus some others as well, they also knew that if this was any good, I'd be fine with it. So, the real question now is if I have a positive view of SECOND TO SUN? too bloody right I have, as this is extremely good stuff. Not only have the band been able to write good songs, but as the completion of them is done in excellent fashion and with an outstanding production, I'm actually loving this to bits.

SECOND TO SUN  is from St. Petersburg  in Russia and as you might have deducted from the comments before, they're not exactly new to the metal world. They have been around since 2011, and haven't exactly sat still in those eleven years, as "Nocturnal Philosophy" is their ninth studio album to date. Musically they are not one of those fast movers, but they make use of a very hypnotic undertone during most of the songs. It might be a repetitive guitar riff, like in "North Metal Legion", the over twelve-minute-long opening song. Even "Veter" has that repetitiveness that is drawing you in, whilst the title song also uses keyboards to achieve that effect. The last two songs might be a little simpler in build, but as by that time you're already addicted to "Nocturnal Philosophy ", it doesn't matter. You're hooked.

On top of that they will go from atmospheric tones to full force Black Metal blastbeats with the guitars playing faster than the speed of light. The best thing about all of this is that SECOND TO SUN know when to slow down, speed up, ramp up the intensity or mellow it down a bit. Vocalist Gleb Sysoev has the right kind of voice to accompany all of this, as his rantings will go up and down your spine, that's how spooky, eerie and frightening they are. But, "Nocturnal Philosophy" never sounds out of control, you will not get the feeling that SECOND TO SUN has lost control. Just to demonstrate how much these guys know what they're doing, this easily could have been a soundtrack to an extremely bloody and gruesome horror movie. Perfect.