Nokturnal Mortum was originally formed as adeath metal band calledSuppuration in 1991,[10] then turned to black metal and changed name toCrystaline Darkness but "had to change the name back in 1993/94 to Nocturnal Mortum because there already existed a band with that name in Western underground".[11] They have stated this about the current name and spelling: "We changed a letter so that we wouldn't find a band with the same name again like it was the case with Crystaline Darkness".[11] Nokturnal Mortum gained recognition in the underground black metal genre with the release of their debut albumGoat Horns, which had two keyboardists play on the album (often on the same song) and for mixing traditional Ukrainian folk influences with black metal.
Initially, the band described their music as "lunar black metal".[12] On their 1996 demoLunar Poetry the band advocated for thekilling of Christians, the destruction of churches, andSlavic paganism, along with describing Jesus as a "crucifiedhippie". Later, when releasing their EPMarble Moon and also theNechrist andLunar Poetry albums, they includedanti-Semitic lyrics with neo-Nazi andwhite supremacy messages and imagery.[13][14][15]
As the more popular non-political black metal scene (including many shops and concert events) began distancing themselves from their ideology, the band instead became prominent in the early Eastern EuropeanNational Socialist black metal scene, and is today often considered as one of the groups that shaped the Slavic subcultural NSBM movement.[1][2] They also began usingswastikas in their logo, on albums, during shows, and praising theThird Reich and theHolocaust openly in various side-projects.[16] Knjaz Varggoth, in one of several side projects, also voiced support for the so-called "racial holy war" idea.[17] Nokturnal Mortum's albumНехристь (Nechrist) features a song called "The Call of Aryan Spirit", which includes anti-Semitic lyrics and the glorification ofpogroms. The album's original release included a swastika design consisting of fourAK-47s.[6][13][14][18][19]
In interviews, appearances, merchandise and on their website, the band showcased neo-Nazi opinions but their music style itself was described as "pagan black metal".[2][19] Statements and texts showneo-völkisch as well asneo-paganist ideas, and a tendency toariosophy.[13][14]
In 2008, the band's vocalist and guitarist,Knjaz Varggoth, claimed that he had no interest in political tendencies and that he had, "never viewed Nokturnal Mortum as a political band".[20][21] In 2014 the group maintained that NM had severed ties with NSBM ideologies and political themes,[22] however these statements appear to contradict some conduct in the following years, as the band has remained active inwhite supremacist circles and it has played live at neo-Nazi and far right shows, including Ukraine's ownAsgardsrei festival in 2016 and 2018.[23][24][25][22][26] They have also since collaborated with the NSBM label "Militant Zone".[26][23][24][25][22]
^И.Симоненко Между молотом и наковальней. Гид по Хард-року и Метал-музыке Украины (p. 20)/ Игорь Симоненко. - Винница : Нилан : Rockinbooker Publishing, 2015. - 167, [25] с. : фот. -ISBN978-966-924-116-0
