The progression witnessed by this UK blackened death metal outfit is there for all to hear through their decade and a half existence, from the raw dissonant delight of the debut ‘The Calling Depths’ through to the excellent oppressive horror of 2014’s ‘Svn Eater’ and onto the terror strewn EP ‘Sacrament’ released in 2019, Lvcifyre is a writhing, sinuous sonic beast of incalculable abhorrence. There is clear progression here, an amplification, an enhancement of their ambition through their discography culminating in this third full length that distils everything before it into an album saturated in blasphemic malevolence and violence.
With a short fade-in ‘Gods Await Us’ produces a dramatic toning before the anticipated detonation, releasing ferocious riffing and insane velocities. Utilising subtle pace changes afford the opener that sense of depth, as the ultra-demonic vocal bellows capitalise on the unerring density. There are obvious references to Morbid Angel on this album, like their previous releases, but within that sphere the band unleashes a deluge of tempo dynamics and atmospheric backing via intros or just riff changes. Intense and loaded with fervidity ‘Black Beneath The Sun’ comes across as war metal at times due to its rancorous speed producing a track that leaches the sweat out of you.
Likewise, with ‘Headless Rite’ or the title track, the opaque riffing situates the songs in a crevasse of oppression, similar to the likes of Immolation or Incantation, with that ability to suffocate the listener with each passing second, choking, asphyxiating and strangling the life from you. The bands aptitude to deliver intimidating riffs and atmosphere is perfectly exemplified by the awesome ‘The Wolf Of The Great Dark’ a song that flows in smoothly after the title track with acoustic guitar work and wolf howls which maybe a tad clichéd to some but it works extremely well to set the aura of the tracks opening bass line. The riff that ensues is catchy, gripping your head like a vice before the swingeing tempo shift.
‘The First Archon’ with its short fade-in, a facet the band uses a lot on the album, allows the song to gather in menace, each moment unveiling perilous riffing amid the slightly higher tone the track seems to possess creating a far blacker delivery. Short and to the point, ‘Blood Of Az’ is destructively fast, with a squealing lead break that adds to the songs unrelenting nature, before closing the release with the epic ‘Black Mass’. With atmospheric noises, groans and a gentle bass riff the song begins brilliantly, giving it a theatrical fervour within a doom-death like foundation. The progressive increase in pace is formidable, as are the multi-tone vocals, something this album uses a lot to add depth and charisma, as the riff changes abound producing an intense onslaught that isn’t necessarily fast, just really impacting.
A devastating album by Lvcifyre, a pinnacle in their discography, drenched in aggression but inundated with enraging finesse.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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