12 pages booklet, clear jewel case CD.
Inferna Profundus Records is proud to present the new work of the Lithuanian black metal act LUCTUS. The band, after five years, finally returns with the long-awaited new full-length album! LUCTUS, over the course of nearly twenty years of activity, have always been a band devoted solely and exclusively to Black Metal - this new work represents the artistic and spiritual sum of the long work that lasted almost five years. The new album conceptually continues the path taken by the previous album "Ryšys" (2015), while musically represents a further step in the search of the purity of sound and the emotional impact. The album was recorded in Lithuania, but mixing and mastering work was done in Stockholm, in the legendary "Necromorbus Studio B". The result is a sonic vortex of violence, majesty and spiritual research through the darkest of the arts – the art of Black Metal! The new album is titled "Užribis" and it’s a spiritual journey through the obscure depths of the soul, breaking through any boundaries of social life, in search of what the band calls the “Other World”. The new work consists of nine tracks to which several guests from the Lithuanian black metal scene and beyond have also contributed. Inferna Profundus Records will release the album on April 4th in CD and LP formats. Later the band will present the new work on tour around Europe. Are you are ready to dive into the cold waters of the Beyond?
Lithuania is a beautiful country. I have never been there (but this is not the main reason for its beauty), but all I have seen about this landscape so far was fascinating. The same applies for the music from Lithuania. Okay, the only band I really know is Luctus, but these dudes definitely hit the bull’s eye with their second and third album. After seemingly endless five years, they enter the surface again with “Užribis”. This album does not beat around the bush – quickly it becomes evident that the group has not modified its style. The protagonists still attack with a mix of thrash and black metal, some early Slayer solos and a small number of horror and punk vibes. The title track is a very good representative of the album, because it shows all these features and moreover, it holds some flattening guitar lines. Luctus have a talent for rabid yet haunting melody lines (and please do me a favour and understand “melody lines” in the broadest sense).
The band does not focus on retro sounds. I do not listen to the next chapter of early Bathory or old Venom worship. The musicians also show no innovative approach, but they score with demanding song patterns. This is rather the exception than the norm when it comes to black thrash metal. Better still, these patterns find the right balance between complexity and accessibility. The guttural lead vocals add a great amount of dirty negativity and so it is bearable that the band has marginally lowered the average velocity, if I am not mistaken. Anyway, this detail does not affect the harshness of the material. The guitars send greetings from hell, the present bass supports them with a grim smile and the drums, in particular the double bass, love to thrash the listener into the darkest holes. The promo sheet speaks of a spiritual journey through the obscure depths of the soul. This is not totally wrong, but from my point of view, here we have the case that brutality beats spirituality. Luctus mostly search for the maximum of violent force, while reflecting thoughts and aesthetic sensitivity eke out a living. Admittedly, I do not understand a single word of the lyrics, but the music alone does not indicate a focus on spiritual modes of expression. Do not expect trance-like sequences, my friends. Luctus prefer to offer a deadly cocktail while avoiding major flaws.
Just like its predecessors, the album is well produced. The heavyweight, rasping guitars show their muscles, the voice is neither too loud nor too silent and all in all, the production does not lack pressure. So, in view of the technical implementation, there is nothing to grumble. Almost the same goes for the compositions. Naturally, those who like to find the fly in the ointment can rant about a lack of compactness. Okay, maybe two or three songs are a bit too long, but there is no significant mismatch between substance and length of the individual pieces. Maybe evil-minded detractors will also say that there is no “übersong” on this album, but these guys should take a good look at themselves. How many of them have ever done an outstanding job? It does not matter. More important is that I finally should book a flight to Lithuania. Unfortunately, that’s not that easy in times of the Corona virus.
Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
