Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/24/1999
At first blush, the sound of Dallas goth outfit
Nocturne feels dated in its forced spookiness. Uncomplimentary comparisons to
Marilyn Manson naturally come to mind at first. After all, the two groups have much in common -- most notably, drummer
Sara Lee Lucas. On its 1999 debut,
Twilight,
Nocturne belches out a plaintive and seemingly calculated mix of
industrial/
gothic metal that only reveals itself after repeated listens.
Lacey Conner is both a blessing and a curse. She snarls her way through verse after tired verse like a vampire suffering from food poisoning. The pained regurgitation of so many familiar
industrial/goth images is off-putting at first, but like a few Texas
metal howlers before her,
Conner manages to put a dynamic vocal stamp on her band's sound. What at first appears to be a limitation becomes
Nocturne's greatest strength, especially on standout numbers like
"Pride Must Be Sacrificed" and
"Sub-Mission." The production, arrangements, and musical performances offer little in the way of support for
Conner, who ends up carrying
Twilight with her quirky but affective delivery.
Nocturne has since done better, but this
Triple-X offering exudes enough vitality (courtesy of
Conner) to warrant a recommendation.
~Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide