Enochian

“Night Monumental Evil” (Leviathan Records, 1996)

A Lost Chapter of Scandinavian Black Metal

In the vast and shadowy archives of 1990s Black Metal, some albums fall through the cracks; not because they lack quality, but because they arrived at the wrong time, and with too little noise. “Night Monumental Evil”, the lone full-length release from Swedish band Enochian, is one such hidden relic. Released in 1997, it remains a fascinating example of melodic Scandinavian Black Metal that never received the recognition it deserved.

Right from the opening track, “Wrath from Above,” Enochian sets a bleak, uncompromising tone. The riffs are sharp and emotionally charged, weaving melody and dissonance into an icy tapestry. There's a certain kinship here with bands like Dissection and Sacramentum, though Enochian never strays into imitation. Instead, they carve out a grim and mournful identity of their own. What makes “Night Monumental Evil” so compelling is its sense of restraint. The band knows when to unleash chaos and when to let atmosphere take the lead. Tracks like “Abyss of the Eternal” and “Enochian Incantation” show a careful balance between high-speed aggression and slower, moodier passages. It’s in these moments that the album breathes and reveals its emotional depth.

The vocals are pure Black Metal agony, rasping, tortured, and totally immersed in the material. You won’t easily pick out the lyrics, but that’s part of the appeal. They blend into the storm of sound, adding another layer to the record’s cavernous aura. There are no polished edges here—just raw, unfiltered darkness. Production-wise, this is lo-fi in the best sense. It sounds like it was recorded in a frozen cave at midnight, which only adds to its mystique. Far from being a drawback, the rough soundscape enhances the immersion. It’s grim, cold, and absolutely fitting for a band whose name references an ancient, mystical language.

“Night Monumental Evil” is not a record that rewrote the rules of Black Metal. But it doesn’t need to be. It’s a forgotten piece of the puzzle, a reminder that the second wave of Black Metal was far broader and deeper than just the major names. For those who dig deep into the genre’s underground history, Enochian’s sole full-length is a must-listen.

So, if you’re a fan of the Swedish sound—icy melodies, sorrowful tremolos, and a grim sense of spiritual decay, “Night Monumental Evil” deserves your time. Sometimes, the darkest gems are the ones hiding in plain sight.