Nothvs Filivs Mortis – Lectiones Tenebrarvm CD (Officivm Tenebrarvm)

"Lectiones Tenebrarvm (Compendivm Vmbrae MCMXCVIII † MMXVI)" is a chronological journey in reverse through the formative years of the seminal Spanish / French Cvlt Esoteric Ritual Industrial / Dark Ambient act NOTHVS FILIVS MORTIS, nearly 27 years after its public stillborn inception in October 1998 opening for the legendary Blood Axis in Madrid during their Indo-European Sacrifice Tour, with no discography yet available then.

When asked by Annabel Lee about what the band was about, the band answered: "We are the artistic Medieval manifestation of Death". That much was true then, and that much is still true now.

Their distinctive approach, born in a time when Dark Ambient & Ritual Industrial was neither fashionable nor mainstream, and the extensive use of Latin in their spoken declamations (along with other European languages) always proved them to be a unique act and an outcast within the local scene. A time when XIII finally decided to invest in a rudimentary (quite advanced at the time) home studio, with absolutely no clue about programing a sampler or even use a mixing desk.

Driven by his imperious necessity to express this personal, intellectual / philosophical / spiritual / metaphysical journey in a direct yet cryptic way (hence the reason to use Latin), XIII embraced the “savoir faire”, technical modus operandi & aesthetic codes of other acts originally such as Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows & Rosa Crvx, later aligning its musical form, heavily influenced & taught by the World Serpent Distribution acts such as The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud (whose first demo is dedicated to), and of course 90's seminal acts such as the original Cold Meat Industry's In Slaughter Natives, Archon Satani, or Endvra but to name a few...

Nothvs Filivs Mortis never made it simple and have always chosen a different path, unlike many other acts of the scene. Rather than focusing on quantity, NFM always has (for better or for worse) focused on quality and struggled for perfection, making public manifestations scarce.

After a 10-year hiatus during which XIII concentrated on improving his craft & production skills by becoming a sound engineer; and rather than releasing unfinished material XIII always preferred the immediacy of performing live, while composing at his rhythm with no pressure from anyone (even from long time loving fans & friends) …

Because it's never been about music.
Because it's ALWAYS been about music.
Because it's always been about Death.

"Lectiones Tenebrarvm" (taking its name after the liturgic "Leçons de Ténèbres" held within the "Officium Tenebrarum" ritual) presents a collection of tracks long forgotten on sold out compilations, obscure releases & unreleased material. These "lessons in darkness" are to be approached as formative essays in different musical genres during the early years of NOTHVS FILIVS MORTIS …

From Dark Folk (“Crvxæformis”, the acoustic version of "The Crvciform Liber II", featured on Cynfeirdd's original "Oran Mor" trilogy) to Neo Classical ("La Bête Dans Le Verbe”) & Orchestral Industrial (“Notre Dame Des Ronces”). To the present ritualistic Dark Ambient depths of "De Profvndis" to the anthemic Ritual Industrial “credo” that "Legio" is.

Remastered in Summer of 2020 during the times of this present age's Black Plague (known as COVID-19), this collection of shadows was supposed to be available during NFM's last performance at the Death Cult Rising 2024 festival. As Life & Death happens (and have been happening for the last 27 years), it is finally available now.

"Lectiones Tenebrarvm (Compendivm Vmbrae MCMXCVIII † MMXVI)" comes in a beautiful matte 8-panel Digipak strictly limited to 144 hand numbered copies, with mastering & art by Alberto Hernández Serradilla & amazingly beautiful pictures of Les Catacombes de Paris (constant inspiration & home of the French artist) by Annalisa "Liz" Boccia.

This is a eulogy.
This is a testament.
This is an exorcism.
This is a baptism.

Media Vita In Morte Svmvs,
A. "XIII" H. S. for :n:f:m: