Solitude Productions, 31st August 2009

Swedish doom metal band Nox Aurea, which features members of Rimfrost, The Cold Existence and Domgard, has released their debut album entitled Via Gnosis. 

While this album is good it's still just an average doom metal album. Their sound is gloomy, eerie, and unearthly. Other than the slight death metal influence, this album sounds a lot like other doom albums out there and is exactly what you would expect to hear from a doom metal band. Vocals vary from growling to clean male and female vocals, some heavy doom riffs, and keyboards. They follow the trend of many doom/death bands and use female vocals to create a haunting feel.  While many doom metalers will enjoy this album there's really nothing exciting or new on it. 

The album is just over 70 minutes long and honestly at times is hard to get through. Many of the songs drag on repetively and the predictability is boring. Don't get me wrong there are some great eerie and haunting melodies and doom filled riffs, but the predicibility takes away from the enjoyment of the album. 

Overall a good album, but nothing to write home about. http://www.myspace.com/noxaurea