apanthropy

Nuctemeron
Demonic Sceptre
I Hate Records
To Be Released: March 13th, 2026

Rating: 9/10

“Nuctemeron deliver a quality debut record with ‘Demonic Sceptre’, an important achievement for any band, regardless of genre. Combining the ferocity of black metal to the battle-lust of old-school speed metal, the band kicks in the face of the listener across ten tracks, an absolute sonic bludgeoning. This is a mandatory listen for anybody who is interested in old-school thrash, speed metal, or black metal.”

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1 – Fresh Blood for the 13th Coffin
2 – The Bat
3 – After Violent Storm
4 – Under Devil’s Command
5 – Fuck Off!!! (In the Name of Evil)
6 – Burn My Skin to Leather
7 – Rape from the Grave
8 – Metallic Thunder
9 – Brandish the Hammer of Hell
10 – Angel Dust (Venom cover)
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Nuctemeron, an absolutely filthy noise. A whip strike of speed metal and the hellfire rain of ripping black metal combined into a frenzied spasm recalling the likes of demo-era Nifelheim, early Destruction, early Sodom, and even further back, to the likes of Venom. Packed with stripped-to-the-bone riffing and frantic percussion, the ten blasts of whiskey-fueled vomit howls that make up the band’s debut effort, Demonic Sceptre, pack enough punch and enough character that the 41 minutes comprising the album feel entirely too short.

Founded in 2014, the Germany-based four-piece issued a series of EPs and splits with acts such as Nocturnal and Nunslaughter, building up their putrid library of material over the course of the first decade of their career. From their first release, the 2016 EP Knights of Hell, to their impending debut, Nuctemeron presented their formula and have never deviated from it. The band have established themselves as a death threat in the vein of blackened speed metal and their debut, Demonic Sceptre, will make them a band worth keeping an eye and ear on. This is the type of righteous black glory, the triumphant riffs, the driving percussion, the wild vocals, that many bands reach for but only a few truly grasp. Think of the Australian scene; Destroyer 666, Gospel of the Horns, Nocturnal Graves, but give it a distinctively German tonality, one that really mirrors the true glory of the nation’s early thrash metal scene, one of the powerhouse dynasties of 1980s extreme music.

‘Fresh Blood for the 13th Coffin’ guides the listener into the album with vintage synth swells and the sound of rain, various atmospherics create a sensation of the noctambulant, one walking through a graveyard at night during an autumn storm. ‘The Bat’ strikes first, using its early phrases to build up tension using haunting melody, crashing church bells, and triumphant harmonies. Crashing down on the listener is the transition into a full-fledged hammering display of black speed metal, with ripping thrash-style rhythmic guitar and manic drumming that shows punk-style patterns in tandem with more aggressive double-bass segments. The howled vocals are distinctive and feral, avoiding the common cliches of black metal and adopting something that feels far more organic and much more befitting for the music. Verses shift into a simple chorus of blazing-fast single-note tremolo, addictive, catchy, and memorable.

‘The Bat’ reveals one of the great prominent characteristics of Demonic Sceptre, each song is memorable for its riffs, structure, and execution. No two songs sound the same, ideas aren’t repeated, and the record balances simplicity with methodical proficiency to a degree that signals very talented musicians at the helm, ones that understand what they’re trying to achieve with their music. This isn’t a blind assault of ‘riffs-per-minute’ or the easy cliches sometimes associated with modern black metal or speed metal hybrids, but genuinely interesting and engaging riffcrafting, coupled with relatively conventional structuring, and executed like maniacs.

The worship of the old gods can be heard on ‘Under Devil’s Command,’ channeling the early thrash greats and propelling forward with dynamic percussion. Powerful melodies and harmonies pepper the interior of the track, creating a bridge that breaks up the sonic assault and allows the listener some time to breathe before the pummeling begins again. This is vintage thrash with a black metal attitude, some of the best of its style.

‘Fuck Off!!! (In the Name of Evil)’ once again leans into the thrash template and opens up with an absolutely punishing drum barrage that borders blast beat territory. Much like ‘The Bat,’ the chorus is memorable, the riff-forward narrative is perfectly organic and fluid, and the attitude is one of pure ‘fuck off’ energy.

Opening with grinding bass guitar tonally similar to what Impaled Nazarene used on their Latex Cult full-length from 1996, ‘Burn My Skin to Leather’ takes no prisoners, with its blasting rhythm and constant punkish riffing. The drummer, Christhunter, displays animalistic prowess and a stamina that just sends the songs into a state of murderous overdrive, with this track being one of his most prominent displays of ruthless drumming.

Moving towards the end of the record, Demonic Sceptre doesn’t wane. ‘Metallic Thunder’ is a whirlwind of melodic, haunting, cyclical riffing that invokes early Nifelheim, a rancid display of simplistic riffing and pounding rhythm. The sonic relationship between guitar player Exterminator, bass player Volcanic Slut, and the prior mentioned Christhunter shows a vile chemistry and an attunement with one another that leads to genuinely interesting interactions and a brutally efficient execution.

Closing the CD version of Demonic Sceptre is a cover version of the Venom classic, ‘Angel Dust.’ Nuctemeron bless the track in their foul offal and use it to bash what’s left of the listener’s brain in.

Production on Demonic Sceptre is modern but not lifeless or sterile. While clear and clean, there is a ‘dirt under the fingernails’ type of character for the guitar tone, giving both palm-mute heavy rhythmic picking and single-note tremolo plenty of vibrant body. The bass is buzzsaw hell, like a hammer to the side of the head, giving a dead heat to the low end and beefing up the general direction of the rhythm. Vocalist Lunatic Aggressor sounds feral and chaotic, being pushed up front, attacking with a shouted vocal approach, carried by the non-stop barrage of guitar riffs.

Nuctemeron deliver a quality debut record with Demonic Sceptre, an important achievement for any band, regardless of genre. Combining the ferocity of black metal to the battle-lust of old-school speed metal, the band kicks in the face of the listener across ten tracks, an absolute sonic bludgeoning. This is a mandatory listen for anybody who is interested in old-school thrash, speed metal, or black metal. This is a great record to close out the 2026 Winter listening season and another stellar record for the German scene, showing off the nation’s ability to lead the charge across multiple genres. One listen and you’ll be hooked, and you’ll end up with the choruses of some of these songs stuck in your head, and you’ll end up learning each song by name.

Label: I Hate Records
Band: Nuctemeron

AJK