EP review: Lux Sine Lumine - Lux Sine Lumine II (2024)

Lux Sine Lumine - Lux Sine Lumine II

UK

The Centipede Abyss

 

As someone who mostly listens to extreme metal, I have to admit that it can be quite refreshing to hear something a little different from what I usually listen to, like Lux Sine Lumine.

 
Admittedly, I’m a bit uncertain how to accurately describe the music on this release, but I will try my best. Basically, it's a kind of harrowing ambient music with lots of psychedelic and doom elements. The tracks are lengthy and spacey, sounding like an acid trip into the realms of some otherworldly dimension. The music is quite expansive, eerie and nightmarish, but also very immersive.

Lux Sine Lumine sounds like the artistic expression of a warped mind and like psychedelics had been involved in the creation of this work; ritualistic soundscapes shrouded in darkness, like rays of alien radiation pervading the mind, leaving you vulnerable and dazed.

The experimental nature of the music shows as Lux Sine Lumine incorporates an array of sounds and textures ranging from low distorted bass to piano segments to create a soundtrack of absolute darkness and dread. The piano is particularly useful in that regard, as it really accentuates the overall mood of negativity. Those with suicidal thoughts should stay away from this, as the music will make you want to impale yourself.

It may not be all that metallic, but fans of bands like Gnaw Their Tongues, Abrubtum and Khanate will find plenty to appreciate with this release. This release totally fucked me up and I love it.
 

EP review: Garden of Eyes - Boomhammer (2021)

Garden of Eyes - Boomhammer

England/UK

Ancient Entity Records / AHPN Records 

Garden of Eyes is a one-man project from England playing rotten death metal and "Boomhammer" is their latest work – a short 2-track EP clocking in at 8 minutes. The music has a thick buzzsaw sound reminiscent of Swedish death metal, although I can also hear a bit of Finnish death in their sound. You could say the sound is like a mix of the two. There's a lot of distortion on the guitar that gives the music quite a vicious feel, coupled with the evil vocal effects. The two tracks on this demo are rather brief, but have a resounding impact in terms of their execution. I would say that Nattskog has a good knack for composing solid death metal that is loaded with an array of crushing riffs. The music is decidedly straightforward and simple, but well structured and quite dark. There's definitely a bit of early UK doom to the sound as well, especially during the slower parts. The raw production suits the music and the simple approach works for the band. I noticed that the drums are programmed, although they do not sound overbearing, as the attention is mainly on the riffs and vocals. Overall, this is a solid slab of morbid death metal and recommended for fans of the old Swedish and Finnish scenes. (HT)