Over the last two decades, American bands have been stretching the boundaries of black metal. One such band redefining the borders of the beloved (and severely protected) genre is Illinois’s Nachtmystium. An interesting study in the evolution of modern metal in the US, Nachtmystium blends multiple genre staples and a unique vision with the essential roots of black metal. Founded by controversial figure Blake Judd, the band immediately gained followers for their unconventional breakout album Instinct: Decay. Excited by their new sound but spurred by the antics of Blake Judd, Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1 had many fans wondering if black metal in the US could ever see the kind of legitimacy it’s worked so hard to achieve. On this 10-year anniversary of Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1, perhaps new and old fans alike will take a chance to revisit this emotional record and bear witness to the story and the journey of Nachtmystium. Prophecy Productions is excited and honored to reissue Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1 on it’s 10-year anniversary. The last decade has seen many changes for the Nachtmystium, it’s members, and the entirety of the metal genre. This record captures the very essence of internal conflict with destructiveness of choice and the idealism of youth and fame. Sang with the sorrow and hollowness embodied by blackened metal, Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1 is a new record for a problem ever-married to rock and roll fame: indulgence, self-medication, and escapism.