This is the third album from Ars Veneficium, a black metal band from Belgium.
Following on from 2016’s enjoyable The Reign of the Infernal King and 2020’s Usurpation of the Seven comes The Lurking Shadow of Death; 40 minutes of new material from the mighty Ars Veneficium.
They say that you shouldn’t judge an album by its cover artwork, but I do like the one that adorns The Lurking Shadow of Death. I do say, however, that you absolutely should judge an album if it has pointless intros or interlude tracks, and The Lurking Shadow of Death has neither. It’s seven songs, all of which showcase Ars Veneficium’s brand of melodic black metal in a potent light.
The most important thing is the songwriting, of course, and in this Ars Veneficium have improved. Opener Death Is Light is a great example of this. It is a powerhouse of melodic black metal, ripe with killer riffs, burning melodies, and snarled vocals. The guitars sound absolutely malevolent in places, and there are more hooks than an abattoir.
The first song is not an isolated example of Ars Veneficium’s ability either (although it is one of the strongest tracks on the record), as each of the songs boasts its share of compelling moments. Other prime cuts include the towering rage of Into the Void and the fury of My Tomb Under the Stars. I like that there’s an eerie tone that links all of the songs too, allowing an atmospheric transition form one to the next, (this is also how the album ultimately ends, with this bleeding into a more tense soundscape, before dropping off into ominous whispers, and then returning once more for the final few seconds).
The band all put in top work across the songs. The drumming is furious, but precise. The guitars honed to a fine killing point, adept at unleashing a blistering melodic attack as well as sinuous blackened riffs. There’s even – shocker – a place for the bass to have a presence of its own, which is good to hear, (there are a few examples of this, but closer Pale Image of I is one I like in particular, lending the song a pulsing quality in places).
Like the music, the singer sounds better than ever too, and gives his best performance to date. He’s aided on two tracks by guests – the singer of Enthroned on De Glorie van Dood and of Necrophobic on My Tomb Under the Stars, both of which enrich the music with their presence.
Yep, this is damn good stuff. I’ve enjoyed all of Ars Veneficium’s previous work that I’ve heard, but on their new record they have made confident strides onwards into the darkness. Both the performances and the production values of the album have been pushed forward, making The Lurking Shadow of Death the band’s strongest work yet.
Very highly recommended for fans of melody rich blackened aggression.
Wonderbox Metal 