Lvcifyre – Svn Eater (Review)

LvcifyreThese UK Black Metallers are releasing their second album and I have been quite looking forward to listening to this. I have not been disappointed.

Things start out unexpectedly creepy and slow. Blackened vocals scrape out of the speakers while the music crawls along at a menacing and disturbing pace. Only about halfway through the first song Night Seas Sorcery do proceedings pick up the pace and the vocals become even darker with the music matching this to precision.

For the most part the rest of the album is less Doom-influenced, but Lvcifyre consistently demonstrate a grasp of mood and atmosphere, be this when they drag themselves slowly through the mire or when they propel themselves towards you all fangs and razors.

Vocals are of both the Black and Death Metal varieties, with each style being mastered and used to better emphasise the chaos and confusion the band wish to sow. In fact although I would say this is predominantly a Black Metal album there is a healthy dose of Death Metal going on as well.

Brutal, passionate, otherworldly and hellish – join the Blackened Death Metal elite.

Xul – Malignance (Review)

XulFrom Canada; Xul play a bludgeoning brand of blackened Death Metal, with plenty of confidence and assurance. Xul combine both Black and Death Metal in a meaningful way – imagine a sound that is half-way between Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir, sans symphonics, (if that makes any sense).

At about 38 minutes in duration the album is just about the right length. Gritty and raw but still sounding tight and professional – the songs zoom by in  a whirlpool of brutality and dark melody.

Sit back, hit play and hold on!