Invictus - Nocturnal Visions

Invictus is a death metal band from Japan, who formed in 2015.  Their latest album is “Nocturnal Visions,” and it is their second full-length album; they have also released a split album, two demos and a compilation. 

Even though February isn’t quite over yet, I’ve already heard quite a bit of death metal in 2026, and I have no issues proclaiming this is one of the better ones I’ve heard this year so far. It doesn’t reinvent any wheels, but those wheels roll nonstop with the perpetual motion that is death metal.  “Nocturnal Visions,” is more along the lines of an old school approach.  It has a tone of groove, and the guitar tone is menacing as hell.  

The bass is pretty important on this album too, making it even heavier and having a tone that matches the guitar in intensity and ability to conjure up hellish grooves that provide optimal impact.  The vocals are what one would expect on an album such as this but that isn’t a bad thing. I actually found them to be pretty well balanced, without being too deep nor overly gravely.  The drums are definitely a standout, and far more cleverly played than what a lot of modern old-school death metal bands can pull off.  

After a brief intro that doesn’t serve any real purpose, the album kicks in with “Abyssal Earth Eradicates.”  If you like this, you’ll like the rest of the album.  Within just seconds, the band is full speed ahead, but they pause long enough for a killer bass drop before sliding into some pretty slick riffs.  The bass pops up again, always making the rest of the band even heavier and the song that much more brutal.  Moments of increased tempos push a song that’s beyond its limit to, somehow, even more raucous heights.  The solo is surprisingly melodic but fits the moment.  Killer opening song!

“Persecution Madness,” shows off the drumming but you’ll stay for the riffs as well.  Even at such murderous speeds, the music remains heavy and the production lets every sharp note cut deeper and deeper as the guitars/bass blaze on through.   The song grows groovier as it moves towards its mid-section—a lot of headbanging moments on this one!  Another solo comes around, but this one is less melodic and more chaotic which is perfect to set up the destruction that arrives afterwards. 

“Frozen Tomb,” is one of my favorites on the album.  The tunnel vision intensity in the beginning is impressive and the song pummels endlessly.  Around the halfway mark, the band pulls back on the tempo a bit and lets loose groove for days.  The drums find themselves in a pocket that is equally as impressive and goes a long way in pushing the song to new degrees of pain.  I like the ‘slow’ guitar solo set against the much faster rhythms.  

The title track finishes the album and it's just over 8 minutes in length.  I wouldn’t be opposed to them doing more long songs like this as it gives the band a real chance to truly settle into their sound. Some of the album’s best riffs are on this one.  The later parts of the song are, briefly, a bit doomy and it sounds great!  

All in all, Invictus’ “Nocturnal Visions,” is one hell of a slab of death metal from a band that knows its style and what it wants to do.  An album like this that embraces what it is without pointless details and pretense is refreshing in its own right.  If you’re a death metal fan, I don’t see any reason why “Nocturnal Visions” wouldn’t be an exciting listen. 

Rating:  Great