225:, Judd, the band's founder, claims the idea for the album's name came from his desire to reestablish Nachtmystium's image in the music community. He states, "The idea of 'Assassins' is that an assassin kills, gets rid of or destroys something. It's not directly about us. We want to assassinate all these preconceived notions about where the metal community feels we belong in music and want to do our own thing. And what we do is black meddle." The album's subtitle itself incorporates the title of
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echoed a similar sentiment, and gave the album an 'A'-rating. They described the album, stating, "Atop a raw, furious black metal foundation, Nachtmystium β whose earlier work was way more 'true
Norwegian black metal'-inspired, a la
698:. He commented, "Most of the songs from the new album, especially βGhosts of Grace,β were corrosive, dense and technically flamboyant. And Mr. Judd's growl was heavy, foregoing the lucidity he gave it on record."
667:
was one 2008's top releases, and gave it an 8.9 out of 10. Reviewer
Brandon Stosuy claimed their sound to be "unique, powerful blend of 70s-drenched black'n'roll." He went on to further claim, "
257:. Other guest artists were featured on the album, including Bruce Lamount of Yakuza, who provided a saxophone solo on the track βOceanbornβ. The band uploaded "Your True Enemy", a song from
1108:
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featured a more mature sound compared to
Nachtmystium's other releases. He also praised the band for incorporating jazz and psychedelic elements into their black metal sound.
818:
657:β add a liberal helping of , psychedelia and classic rock, and bring it all together with organic, retro production to craft something utterly unique and pretty damn cool."
626:
was generally met with positive critical reception. Music critics praised
Nachtmysitum's experimental approach and innovative take on black metal. Carlos Ramirez of
671:
contains big, almost stadium-sized anthems, monumental drinking songs, gorgeous instrumental excursions, prog-metal, and solos that make you catch your breath".
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215:, the band's co-founder and front-man wanted to create an album that focused on experimental and progressive metal with a black metal influence.
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All lyrics are written by Chris Black, except where noted; all music is composed by Blake Judd, except where noted
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Judd recruited producer
Sanford Parker to lead the album's production and audio engineering, and veteran drummer
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was intended to be the band's departure from the traditional black metal genre. In an interview with the
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ranked the album number 10 in its Best Albums of the 2000s list, calling it "a dizzying union of
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1101:"Nachtmystium: Assassins: Black Meddle, Pt. 1 (Century Media/Candlelight; 2008)"
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196:'s Volume Studios. The album contains such experimental musical flirtations as
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to be "more pedestrian" in contrast to
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in Europe on June 23, 2008. The record was recorded in
December 2007 at
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a 9/10 rating, as well as an editors choice award. Ramirez later named
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page in
February 2008, and the title track "Assassins" in April 2008.
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on his list of "10 Great Black Metal Albums." Brent Burton of the
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1075:"The Coroner Report Part II: 'True Norwegian Black Metal'"
1158:"Dark Side of the Metal, Played Deep Into the Night"
933:"Nachtmystium β Assassins: Black Meddle Pt.1 Review"
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990:"Nachtmystium: Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1"
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188:in the United States on June 10, 2008, and by
124:Nachtmystium, Chris Black & Sanford Parker
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963:"Nachtmystium Assassins: Black Meddle, Pt. 1"
904:"Assassins: Black Meddle, Pt.1 > Overview"
751:Jeff Sealy β guest lead guitar on tracks 5, 6
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1196:"Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1" at discogs
761:Produced by Sanford Parker and Nachtmystium
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789:"Genghis Tron & Nachtmystium Part II"
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850:"This Year Proving Good for Your Ears"
812:
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764:Engineered and mixed by Sanford Parker
712:Blake Judd β lead guitars, lead vocals
926:
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679:atmospherics and black metal might".
491:
18:2008 studio album by Nachtmystium
7:
1156:Caramanica, Jon (December 9, 2008).
877:"Nachtmystium Posts New Song Online"
731:Chris Black β keyboards, programming
363:"Away from the Light" (Instrumental)
275:with bonus tracks on June 20, 2008.
1011:Ramirez, Carlos (January 6, 2009).
969:from the original on April 18, 2010
718:Zion Meagher β bass, backing vocals
512:
431:"Seasick (Part 1: Drowned at Dusk)"
1111:from the original on July 12, 2008
883:from the original on June 25, 2008
568:
465:"Seasick (Part 3: Silent Sunrise)"
14:
1073:Atkinson, Peter (July 23, 2008).
1054:from the original on July 1, 2008
988:Begrand, Adrien (June 23, 2008).
931:Ramirez, Carlos (June 10, 2008).
848:Bracelin, Jason (July 16, 2008).
795:. Contraband Candy. June 16, 2008
721:Tony Laureano β drums, percussion
1099:Stosuy, Brandon (July 9, 2008).
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1376:Assassins: Black Meddle, Part I
1042:Burton, Brent (June 25, 2008).
875:Gibson, Doug (April 28, 2008).
273:Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
271:released a Japanese version of
177:Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
152:Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
62:December 2007 at Volume Studios
24:Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1
1384:Addicts: Black Meddle, Part II
1283:Andrew "Aamonael" Markuszewski
448:"Seasick (Part 2: Oceanborne)"
290:
161:Addicts: Black Meddle, Part II
1:
1191:Nachtmystium MySpace Homepage
1013:"10 Great Black Metal Albums"
965:. Pitchfork Media Inc. 2008.
817:Gendron, Bob (June 1, 2008).
1468:Century Media Records albums
715:Jeff Wilson β rhythm guitars
1019:. p. 5. Archived from
682:However, Jon Caramanica of
229:'s 1971 breakthrough album
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1473:Candlelight Records albums
1132:"Best Albums of the 2000s"
819:"Nachtmystium's new album"
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767:Mastered by Collin Jordan
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1400:The World We Left Behind
879:. metalunderground.com.
854:Las Vegas Review-Journal
734:Bruce Lamont β saxophone
1186:Making Of Video Feature
1352:Reign of the Malicious
1250:Martin von Falkenstein
184:. It was released via
1048:Washington City Paper
748:on tracks 2, 8, 9, 10
744:Matt Johnsen β guest
641:Washington City Paper
312:"One of These Nights"
186:Century Media Records
1260:Jean-Michael Graffio
902:Rivadavia, Eduardo.
741:, keyboards, effects
726:Additional musicians
487:Professional ratings
204:musical "meddling".
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1023:on January 18, 2009
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190:Candlelight Records
1162:The New York Times
685:The New York Times
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269:Daymare Recordings
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1392:Silencing Machine
1313:Markus Launsburry
1130:Ramirez, Carlos.
1044:"Metal Defectors"
737:Sanford Parker β
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386:Judd, Jeff Wilson
380:"Your True Enemy"
346:"Ghosts of Grace"
248:One of These Days
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279:Track listing
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261:, onto their
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255:Tony Laureano
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54:June 10, 2008
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1419:Nachtmystium
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1327:Zion Meagher
1310:Marcus Kolar
1298:Zack Simmons
1280:Will Lindsay
1277:Charlie Fell
1264:
1259:
1254:
1249:
1242:
1232:Nachtmystium
1167:December 17,
1165:. Retrieved
1161:
1151:
1139:. Retrieved
1125:
1113:. Retrieved
1104:
1094:
1082:. Retrieved
1068:
1056:. Retrieved
1047:
1037:
1025:. Retrieved
1021:the original
1006:
994:. Retrieved
992:. PopMatters
983:
971:. Retrieved
957:
945:. Retrieved
941:the original
911:. Retrieved
897:
885:. Retrieved
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858:. Retrieved
853:
843:
831:. Retrieved
827:the original
797:. Retrieved
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707:Nachtmystium
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182:Nachtmystium
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130:Nachtmystium
44:Nachtmystium
39:Studio album
15:
1463:2008 albums
1304:Chris Black
1292:Jeff Wilson
1274:John Porada
1271:Sam Shroyer
1027:January 15,
746:lead guitar
688:considered
352:Black, Judd
349:Black, Judd
329:"Assassins"
202:black metal
73:Black metal
1452:Categories
1307:Matt Block
1289:Reid Raley
1244:Blake Judd
1136:Noisecreep
772:References
756:Production
673:Noisecreep
655:Darkthrone
562:PopMatters
414:"Omnivore"
227:Pink Floyd
213:Blake Judd
208:Background
198:saxophones
132:chronology
1435:Worldfall
1427:Eulogy IV
1301:Bob Fouts
1105:Pitchfork
702:Personnel
690:Assassins
669:Assassins
665:Assassins
646:Assassins
644:believed
636:Assassins
632:Assassins
624:Assassins
482:Reception
259:Assassins
217:Assassins
143:Worldfall
1324:Kriglord
1141:July 24,
1115:July 11,
1109:Archived
1084:July 25,
1058:June 30,
1052:Archived
967:Archived
947:June 11,
908:Allmusic
887:June 18,
881:Archived
860:July 16,
799:June 18,
506:Allmusic
120:Producer
59:Recorded
51:Released
41: by
833:June 3,
793:Youtube
663:lauded
263:MySpace
239:to the
165:(2010)
156:(2008)
147:(2008)
1438:(2008)
1430:(2004)
1422:(2003)
1403:(2014)
1395:(2012)
1387:(2010)
1379:(2008)
1371:(2006)
1363:(2004)
1360:Demise
1355:(2002)
1330:Noctis
1265:Phenex
996:May 3,
973:May 3,
913:May 3,
556:8.9/10
500:Rating
497:Source
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304:Length
298:Lyrics
241:Meddle
237:homage
232:Meddle
91:Length
630:gave
369:Black
301:Music
295:Title
244:'
108:Label
68:Genre
1336:Zmij
1169:2008
1143:2016
1117:2008
1086:2008
1079:KNAC
1060:2008
1029:2009
998:2010
975:2010
949:2008
915:2010
889:2008
862:2008
835:2008
801:2008
650:KNAC
546:9/10
474:4:12
457:2:48
440:4:52
423:5:05
406:6:48
389:4:15
372:2:19
355:4:49
338:8:07
332:Judd
321:1:50
1411:EPs
1017:IGN
937:IGN
628:IGN
542:IGN
462:10.
291:No.
250:".
246:s "
1454::
1160:.
1134:.
1107:.
1103:.
1077:.
1050:.
1046:.
1015:.
935:.
923:^
906:.
852:.
821:.
809:^
791:.
780:^
445:9.
428:8.
411:7.
394:6.
377:5.
360:4.
343:3.
326:2.
309:1.
100:05
96:45
83:,
79:,
75:,
1224:e
1217:t
1210:v
1171:.
1145:.
1119:.
1088:.
1062:.
1031:.
1000:.
977:.
951:.
917:.
891:.
864:.
837:.
803:.
98::
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