“Ligeia” according to some frantic research, is both the name of a Siren who appeared in works by both Virgil and Homer and the name of the lead character in a short story by American horror master Edgar Allan Poe. The former of course is the depiction of beautiful women with the voice of angels that lure foolhardy sailors to their deaths and the latter a tale supposedly written under the heavy influence of opium that has at its crux the hypothesis that life is sustained only through willpower and that as such even death can be reversed.

Eye of Nix evoke a feeling of both Gothic Romance and the Classics with their mix of Doom, Psychedelia and Black Metal. To gain an insight into the spirit of the band I suggest watching the video of the opening song of the album “Concealing Waters. For me it conjures up the imagery of both the recent film “Midsommar” and the less swash buckling elements of the Robin Hood series of the 1980’s – think Herne the Hunter and Green Man folklore.

Guitarist and vocalist Joy Von Spain spearheads Eye of Nix driving each track forward with the skill of a rally driver, knowing at each tree lined curve when to take her foot off the accelerator and let things drift before slamming down a gear to career violently down a rocky straight. She is the only listed vocalist on the accompanying press release but from Youtube it appears that bassist Zach Wise provides some of the deeper growls.

“Concealing Waters” showcases some of the versatility of Von Spain’s voice utilising a Grace Slick style bluesy/folk lilt alongside a deeper haunting range akin to Siouxsie Sioux. On other tracks she showcases a soprano, that whilst powerful, for me, detracts a little from the music it accompanies.

With this in mind “Ligeia” is a an album that mixes sounds and styles well, deep, dark, lumbering doom passages permeate tracks like Adrift whilst warm arboreal psyche/folk performs rituals amongst the flora and fauna during the title track, Stranded and the albums opener.
Black metal stylings are present throughout but Eye of Nix are also prepared to bring the ferocity to the forefront also. “Pursued” is a raucous rapscallion clad in corpsepaint with dual growl/rasp vocals that carry with it an air of early Bathory played at half speed. Masaaki Masao’s keyboard and sound collages create a fitting atmosphere and Von Spain adds a Soprano meets falsetto vocal, which although reminiscent at times of Justin Hawkins from the Darkness, layers on well. The bass swells and cascades and allows the track to change pace from full on blackened mayhem to a more doom rock groove.

“Tempest” channels Dimmu Borgir from the outset and it is here that the soprano starts to grate a little for me- this is purely personal taste as Von Spain has an excellent voice. She reminds me a little here of Sarah Jezebel Diva and she can certainly hit all the highs and lows. If Operatic metal is your thing you will certainly dig this for me the lilting softer tones of Stranded that follows is nectar to my earholes. This track is haunting and eerie, evoking the feel of ancient power and wisdom swelling from the ground before erupting into a terrifying all consuming goddess. Death, Doom, Black all the metals are here for this alchemy. Keres offers up an instrumental break of post doom with great martial drums before “Ligeia” opens with a flurry of jangling guitars straight out of the early Lush playbook played by Von Spain and Nicholas Martinez. Swirling guitars and drums usher in a dream pop track dosed up with psychedelic doom with stabs of thunder provided by blastbeats and black metal riffs. A little jumbled, but in a charming and fascinating way. Luke La Plante on drums really leads the way on this track, dictating the pace and the change in stylings.

The album closes with a 9 minute epic – Stone & Fury which begins mean and moody before getting a shot to the arm which ups the aggression. This track feels like the final vengeance of a wronged goddess. Pained, pent up screams burst forth over spiky riffs until all is laid waste in fire and destruction. A fitting end to a curious and beguiling album.

Ligeia is a thought-provoking album, there are clumsy parts but these are endearing and the album manages to meld together the influences and styles well to create a cohesive, earthy and spiritual sound.

(7/10 Matt Mason)

https://www.facebook.com/EYEOFNIX

https://eyeofnix.bandcamp.com/album/ligeia