This album is of course a continuum to Assassins: Black Meddle Part I, in the continuing saga that is NACHTMYSTIUM. I applaud Blake Judd for having the balls to release such an album as Addicts. The NACHTMYSTIUM that black metal fans came to know in the early 2000s has completely transitioned their sound. If someone unfamiliar with NACHTMYSTIUM were to play Reign Of The Malicious back to back with Addicts they would not even think it was the same band. For one, almost all traces of their past black metal sounds are far left in the dust. They have taken their music to a place where many an extreme metal band fears to tread.

As much as I like to resist change, I didn’t think I would like this new NACHTMYSTIUM album, in fact I thought I was going to hate it after previewing the song No Funeral. With its peculiar 1980s keyboard acid dance vibe mixed with black metal vocals I could only think, what the fuck is this? What a strange route for NACHTMYSTIUM to take their music. Then strangely I found the song growing on me. After receiving the entire album and letting it sink in for a few weeks I found that Addicts was far different than any release they have ever put out. Frankly, it might be one of the most compelling albums they’ve done yet. With Blake Judd as the heart and soul of the band on vocals and guitar, he is in complete command as members come and go on each album. The musicianship is never lacking as help comes from Wolves In The Throne Room’s Will Lindsey on bass and Wrest from Leviathan on drums. Lyrical content which is enlisted with the help of Chris Black is certainly shrouded in the shadow of negative self indulgences. This formation of NACHTMYSTIUM is on a whole other level. The pace of the music is slower and seems more bass and drum driven than ever before. Slide guitar licks even make an appearance on the title song Addicts. The addition of synthesizers actually gives more depth to the songs and it is done beautifully by Sanford Parker. Ruined Life Continuum is another striking song that gives you the strong urge to dance like a stoned fool. With a more pop than metal drum beat and go-go like guitar riffing, I have to wonder what Blake was listening to, to inspire such a song. Let it be known that NACHTMYSTIUM hasn’t completely lost their edge as High On Hate is fueled with metal aggression. If anything the music on this album is very subdued with incredibly depressive overtones. It is amazing how progressively experimental and cutting edge Addicts is.

So where does NAHCTMYSTIUM go from here? Each time they release an album I am guessing how they’re sound will progress to the next level. How much further can they push the metal envelope from here.