Nachtmystium

Nachtmystium

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	2000
Founder	Blake Judd, Pat McCormick
Headquarters	United States
Products	Music albums, live performances

Nachtmystium is a psychedelic black metal group from the United States, created by Blake Judd (previously known as Azentrius) alongside Pat McCormick. The band's name is derived from the German word Nacht meaning "night," combined with the invented term mystium, which signifies "Encompassing Darkness." From 2005 until 2012, Nachtmystium produced several albums that received critical acclaim, including Instinct: Decay (2006), Assassins: Black Meddle, Part I (2008), and Silencing Machine (2012).

After Judd's 2013 arrest related to theft and substance abuse issues, the band entered a hiatus that lasted until 2017, when Judd reassembled the lineup for new recordings and live appearances. Nachtmystium officially disbanded in 2020 but briefly reunited in 2024 to release a new album.

History

Initially conceived as a side endeavor by Judd and McCormick, Nachtmystium drew inspiration from second-wave black metal bands such as Darkthrone and Burzum. Their debut album, Reign of the Malicious (2002), featured a raw, lo-fi black metal style. Their 2004 release Demise represented their final album rooted purely in traditional raw black metal. Later works like Eulogy IV (2004) and Instinct: Decay (2006) saw the band incorporating psychedelic and experimental elements influenced by groups including Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. The album Instinct: Decay was highly praised critically, ranking as the fourth best album of 2006 according to Decibel Magazine.

The 2008 album Assassins: Black Meddle, Part I broadened their fanbase and garnered favorable reviews from outlets such as Pitchfork Media and MTV’s Headbangers Ball. That same year, Nachtmystium performed for the first time in Scandinavia at Bergen’s Hole in the Sky, sharing the stage with prominent artists. They also toured across the United States alongside bands like Opeth, Baroness, and High on Fire. In 2009, they re-released Demise with additional tracks and issued the EP Doomsday Derelicts.

Controversy emerged in early 2009 when Nachtmystium withdrew from the Scion Rock Fest amid allegations of connections to National Socialist black metal (NSBM). Shortly after these events, Judd suffered a leg injury that led to several canceled tour dates.

In September 2009, the band announced their next album, Addicts: Black Meddle, Part II, which was released in June 2010 and introduced stronger rock and industrial music influences. That year included a performance at Norway’s Inferno Festival followed by a US tour with Cradle of Filth and Turisas.

Recording sessions for their subsequent album began early in 2011 but experienced delays due to Jeff Wilson leaving the band. The 2012 release of Silencing Machine marked a stylistic return to earlier sounds infused with psychedelic nuances. Critics from Sputnikmusic, AllMusic, and Popmatters responded positively to this album. Pitchfork described it as "an impressive and stylish reinvention."

Work on a new record resumed during summer 2013; however, Judd's October arrest on theft charges revealed his heroin addiction. Following this event, remaining shows were canceled while Judd entered rehabilitation and completed work on The World We Left Behind. In November of that year, Judd announced Nachtmystium’s dissolution after thirteen years of activity. The album was released on August 5, 2014, receiving mixed reactions—praised by The Line of Best Fit for its sophisticated heavy rock sound but criticized by Pitchfork for lacking cohesion and described as uninspired by The Quietus.

After the release, fans reported not receiving merchandise they had ordered directly from Judd, continuing previous allegations of unfulfilled orders prior to his arrest. Judd attributed these delays to supply problems involving Century Media. Subsequently, Nachtmystium’s online stores were closed without public explanation. Both Century Media and French label Deadlight Entertainment ended their associations with the band due to Judd’s problematic business conduct.

Judd later confessed to selling merchandise without intending to fulfill orders, using proceeds to support his heroin addiction until his exposure. He reemerged publicly in January 2016 sober and away from music industry activities, releasing previously unreleased material via YouTube in April. In November of that year, Earache Records secured rights to distribute Nachtmystium’s back catalog including a compilation titled Retox: Remixes and Rarities, with Judd committing to resolving outstanding merchandise issues.

In March 2017, Judd declared Nachtmystium’s reunion for four live performances along with an EP entitled Resilient, which was released in November 2018 through Prophecy Productions.

Early in 2020, work commenced on a third part of the Black Meddle series; however, Judd unexpectedly disbanded Nachtmystium in June to focus on other projects. Despite this decision, he continued collaborating with Andrew Markuszewski (lyrics), Ken Sorceron (bass), and Francesco Miatto (drums) on the album through 2022.

Completed in 2024, the album Blight Privilege became Nachtmystium’s first new release since 2018. On August 6, they debuted the single "Phoenix Predator". The full album followed on November 1. Judd confirmed that Nachtmystium is no longer active; this final project fulfilled an existing commitment with Prophecy Productions.

Musical style

Since its inception, Nachtmystium has experienced numerous lineup changes. Although the group originated as a black metal ensemble and performed alongside bands such as Angelcorpse, Goatwhore, and Watain, Judd has stressed that the band should not be narrowly defined as purely black metal. In a conversation with DEAF SPARROW Zine, Judd characterized the band as a metal project that embraces a "do-whatever-we-want" philosophy, utilizing black metal mainly as a rhythmic foundation on records like Instinct: Decay. J. Bennet of Decibel Magazine coined the term "Blackadelia" to describe their sound. Jason Bracelin from the Las Vegas Review-Journal drew parallels between their later material and Pink Floyd, remarking, "[Assassins] is what happens when Pink goes black." Following the release of Assassins, the band attracted heightened attention from media outlets such as Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer, and CMJ New Music Monthly. Despite evolving beyond conventional black metal boundaries, Carlos Ramirez of IGN.com included Assassins among the top ten black metal albums.

For later records, Judd enlisted Chris Black to take on production duties and contribute lyrics. The lyrical themes on Addicts: Black Meddle, Part II were shaped by Judd’s struggles with heroin addiction. On Nachtmystium's final studio album, The World We Left Behind, Judd took full responsibility for songwriting, drawing heavily from his personal battles with substance abuse. The creative process for Blight Privilege began in 2020 and was influenced by societal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests, alongside Judd’s recovery from opioid dependency and his father’s fight against brain cancer. Judd remarked, "My best work is the biproduct of my personal suffering. If I'm not suffering, there is no music to make."

Connection to NSBM

The band's second demo, Unholy Terrorist Cult, was unofficially reissued in 2001 by Vinland Winds, an American label associated with National Socialist black metal (NSBM). This label produced CD-R copies without Nachtmystium's authorization and used alternative cover artwork. In 2002, their debut full-length album, Reign of the Malicious, was released through Regimental Records and distributed by Unholy Records—an imprint linked to Resistance Records, a label known primarily for white power skinhead and NSBM acts. Subsequently, Judd demanded that Resistance Records cease distributing Nachtmystium's releases to distance the band from NSBM affiliations.

During a 2005 interview with Metalreviews.com, Judd criticized MTV and mainstream media as "Zionist means of demoralizing young American's [sic] artistic standards," a remark he initially claimed was misinterpreted but later disavowed.

By 2006, Judd admitted to having had indirect connections with neo-Nazi labels and bands in the past but clarified that neither his band nor label had any interest in that scene. He expressed support for freedom of speech despite disagreeing with National Socialist ideologies.

Prior to their scheduled performance at the Atlanta, Georgia Scion Rock Fest on February 28, 2009, Nachtmystium was compelled to withdraw following requests from festival organizers and sponsors such as Toyota, due to accusations branding the band as "Nazi." In response, Judd announced intentions to pursue legal action against those spreading defamatory claims and firmly rejected any Nazi sympathies or political alignment. He also extended apologies to fans who had planned to attend the show.

Members

Current lineup

• Blake Judd – lead vocals, guitar (2000–2014, 2017–2020, 2024)

Touring musicians

• Pat Clancy – guitar
• Markus Launsburry – bass (2006), drums (2009)
• Jon Woodring – bass and vocals (2008–2009)
• Zack Simmons – drums (2008–2009)
• Sanford Parker – keyboards (2008–2011)
• Andrew Markuszewski – bass (2009–2011)
• Charlie Fell – drums (2009–2011)
• Bob Fouts – drums (2009)
• Timothy "Scarecrow" Preciado – guitar (2013)
• Øystein Albrektsson – bass and backing vocals (2017)
• Jacob Dye – guitar (2017–2020)
• Pete Truax – bass (2017–2020)

Guest/session players

• Tony Laureano – drums (2008)
• Jef Stuart "Wrest" Whitehead – drums (2010)
• Charlie Fell – drums (2011–2012)
• Scare Crow – guitar (2013)
• Dustin Drenk – keyboards (2013)

Past members

• Zion Meagher – bass guitar (2000–2001)
• Pat "Noctis" McCormick – drums (2000–2002)
• Peter "Zmij" Kenar – vocals (2000–2001)
• Marcus Matthew Kolar – bass guitar (2001–2002)
• Kriglord – guitars, keyboards, vocals (2001–2002)
• Matt "Xaphar" Block – drums (2002–2003)
• David "Grave" Swanson – drums (2002)
• Andrew Markuszewski – guitars and vocals (2002–2003, 2011–2013)
• Mike Legros – guitars (2003–2004)
• Wargoat Obscurum – drums (2003–2006)
• Neill "N. Imperial" Jameson – bass guitar (2005)
• Chris Black – bass and keyboards (2005–2012)
• Sinic – guitars (2006)
• Jeff Wilson – guitars (2006–2010)
• Sanford Parker – keyboards (2008–2013)
• Pat Clancy – bass guitar, guitars (2010)
• Reid Raley – bass guitar (2011–2012)
• Will Lindsay – bass guitar (2012)
• John Porada – bass guitar (2012–2013)
• Sam Shroyer – drums (2013)
• Jean-Michel Graffio – drums (2017–2018)
• Martin von Falkenstein – bass and backing vocals (2017–2020)
• Phenex – keyboards (2017–2018)
• Nolan Jenkins – drums (2018–2020)

Studio albums

• Reign of the Malicious (2002)
• Demise (2004)
• Instinct: Decay (2006)
• Assassins: Black Meddle, Part I (2008)
• Addicts: Black Meddle, Part II (2010)
• Silencing Machine (2012)
• The World We Left Behind (2014)
• Blight Privilege (2024)

Extended plays

• Nachtmystium EP released in 2003; later reissued alongside Reign of the Malicious in 2004
• Eulogy IV EP released in 2004
• Worldfall EP from 2008
• Doomsday Derelicts EP issued in 2009
• Resilient EP released in 2018

Demo recordings

• Holocaust of Eternity demo from 2000
• Unholy Terrorist Cult demo released in 2001

Split releases

• Nachtmystium/Zalnik, a split with Zalnik, issued in 2001
• Nachtmystium/Xasthur, a split with Xasthur, released in 2004
• Daze West, a split collaboration with Krieg, from 2005
• Nachtmystium/Murmur, split release from 2011

Live recordings

• Live Onslaught issued in 2002
• Live Blitzkrieg from 2003
• Live Onslaught 2 released in 2005
• Visual Propaganda: Live from the Pits of Damnation, DVD issued in 2005
• Live at Roadburn MMX, available as LP and CD from 2011

Compilation albums

• The First Attacks, 2000–2001 compilation released in 2004
• Retox: Remixes and Rarities, compilation issued in 2017

External links

• Nachtmystium profile on discogs.com
• Archived official Nachtmystium website
• Reign of the Malicious entry at Encyclopaedia Metallum
• Interview with Nachtmystium