Lachryma Christi

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Review: LYKHAEON's new album "Opprobrium"

Black Metal band from Switzerland LYKHAEON, just released (on the 21st) their second full-length, called Opprobrium.
This album was sent to me for review a couple of months ago, but only now I managed to go through it. I only regret I didn't do it earlier, as it is quite good.

As you know, LYKHAEON play a sound we can cathegorize as Death/Black Metal, and their music is mostly about Greek Mythology.

It is very interesting, as they are not Greek, but bring up similarities to Greek bands as Septicflesh.

Opprobrium has seven tracks, all of them very heavy and some of them very dragged, almost doomy. In fact, with huge doomy influence.

2021 has been a good year with original and unique sounds in the black metal industry, as I stated in the previous review shared also today. And LYKHAEON's Opprobrium is no exception. They can have influences and resemblances, but they are also very original in what they do. Their music brings us a great ammount of introspection, anger and fury, my favourite song being Descent Into Ruinous Splendor. The clean voices mixed with the gutural ones at the end of this track are just something. Almost magical.

LYKHAEON are a Duo, but what a sound they make. They had a session drummer on the recording of Opprobrium.

It is fantastic. If you haven't heard it yet, go for it. You won't be disappointed.

Review: Gospelheim's upcoming single "Into Smithereens"

Greetings, fellow readers!
Things have been a bit slow around here, as you might have noticed, but I have a ton of work on my actual job, so haven't had as much time, but eventually, I will!

However, I am not here to write about me (just thought you should know what's going on), but about Gospelheim and their new single, Into Smithereens, which is scheduled to be released on the 30th of July.

Gospelheim are a new band from Manchester, which include members from Impavidus, Frozen In Shadows, Agvirre, and others. Lachryma Christi has worked with Agvirre in the past.

Before we continue, let me tell you this single Into Smithereens is the first single to be released from their upcoming debut album, coming out in the new year.

So, what can you expect from this single? It is a mix of gothic rock, classic heavy metal and black metal.

I liked it very much. It is a breeze of fresh air. Different, heavy, catchy, melodic, and with beautifully sung clean and clear voices, male and female.

The song is quite original, and at the same time brings you that comfortable feeling that only a good song or album can do.

I heard it once, then I had to hear it again, and again, not sure how many times I heard the song in a loop. Hopefully, it will work just like that for you too.

2021 has been a very good year, in what comes to the black metal (and related) style. Gospelheim have black metal influences more instrumentally. It is a very good song, that will stay in your head for a long time, and although the band is newly formed, you can tell musicians are very talented and know what they are doing and where they want to go. Their sound is unique, very sober and consistent.

It is very pleasing to listen to. I felt quite pleased, and I am sure many of you will too.

To mention some influences I found here: My Dying Bride, Therapy (from early 2000s) - strange, but yes!, and I would risk to mention a bit of Moonspell. Intrigued? You can listen to Into Smithereens on the 30th. I will be sharing a link for sure.

You may also expect a review of the full album, when the time comes.

(and look at that logo!)

Monday, May 31, 2021

Maudiir releases both EPs on limited edition double digipak, with bonus track

One man Black Metal band Maudiir, created by F. had released two EPs, since the beginning of the project: Le Temps Peste and La Part du Diable.

Now, he is releasing both EPs on a limited edition double digipak, featuring a bonus track cover of The Exploited's Sid Vicious Was Innocent.

F. aka Maudiir comments:

“I felt that combining the 2 EPs on one digipak would work well to offer an interesting listening experience, showing the progression of the music and sound between Le Temps Peste and La Part du Diable. Maudiir is very much a DIY family affair, so again my brother handled the visuals and did a beautiful job. It’s a really nice package to get into the world of Maudiir. Plus there is also a special version of The Exploited song “Sid Vicious Was Innocent” that’s going to surprise people.”

You may order the digipack here:

https://maudiir.bandcamp.com

And you may stream the track The Fortunate Few here:

Also, you can listen to the cover of The Exploited's Sid Vicious Was Innocent, here:

Tracklist Le Temps Peste (2020)

1. Product (5:14)

2. Abuse The Used (4:30)

3. Wasteland (5:15)

4. Surge of Fire (4:39)

5. Snakes of Creation (6:43)

Tracklist La Part Du Diable (2021)

1. Fracture (4:50)

2. The Slumber (4:57)

3. The Fortunate Few (4:54)

4. Spirit of Sulfur (4:34)

5. The Crowning Hour (5:07)

Bonus Track: Sid Vicious Was Innocent (The Exploited cover) (3:10)

https://www.instagram.com/maudiirofficial/

Dark Vision revealed the cover artwork and the track list of their upcoming album called "lanos"

Hellenic Black Metal band Dark Vision revealed the cover artwork and the track list of their upcoming album called lanos. The album is set to be released on the 25th of June, through Cult of Parthenope.

Tracklist:

1. Ignis
2. Absurdity in Abyss
3. Cosmic Storm
4. Asylum
5. Defile The Pure
6. Of Unknown Artist
7. Sulfur Vision
8. Deathwish (Christian Death cover)
9. Gruesome Tide
10. Keep

lanosI was mixed and mastered by Andy Classen at Stage One Studios in Germany.

Cover art by Remedy Art Design.

Dark Vision are:

Mark - Vocals & Guitars

Nassos - Guitars & Backing Vocals

Frag - Bass

Giannis K. - Drums & Backing Vocals

Laang 冷 release a new video for the song Dongshang 冻伤

Terror Black Metal band from Taiwan released a video for their song Dongshang 冻伤, from their upcoming album Xinteng 心疼, which will be released on the 21st of July, through Talheim Records.

You can now stream the video here:

Read more in:

https://www.facebook.com/LaangOfficial

Friday, May 21, 2021

Review: Isgherurd Morth's debum album "Hellrduk"

Today, Lachryma Christi brings you a review to the album Hellrduk, which is the first album of the Avantgard Black Metal band Isgherurd Morth.

For those who are not familiar with this band, which I wasn't either before I got their message on Facebook, they are from Siberia, and they have been around since around 2015.

And Hellrduk came out already in March. Sad that only this week Lachryma Christi heard of it!

Well, this was quite a good surprise. I liked it very much.

It is so professional and sober. Very heavy and aggressive. Not the confusing aggressive, but the motivational and powerful aggressive.

Instrumentally, you can tell there is a huge complicity between the musicians, who are actually a trio. Trios are most of the times a good and almost shocking surprise in what comes to Black Metal. How can a trio put up a sound like this? That shall remain a mystery.

What else can we say? We can say it is a very Black Metal album, with Shoegazeish Doom influences. I am saying this in a good way. They really managed to make the best of those styles meet in their songs.

Hellrduk has five tracks, and they are all so fantastic. So intelligent.

I can't find anything that I don't like in it. And I have to add that the guitar solos sometimes are quite surprising. There are bits where they have a very healthy Heavy Metal vibe on them. I like it.

All instruments play an equal importance on the songs. Including the voice. Everything is perfectly balanced.

What a journey!

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Review: Cradle of Filth Live Stream on the 12th of May (still up to the 26th of May)

So yes, Cradle of Filth did a live stream online, their "Dracula Spectacular", through Veeps, which aired on the 12th of May, and it happened from St Mary's Art Centre, in Colchester, UK.

I am aware of the fact that many people don't consider Cradle of Filth Black Metal or whatsoever, but that is a debate for another place.

This show was actually very good, in terms of sound and image quality, to start with. The production is phenomenal. I don't know if they are planning it or not, but they would certainly benefit of making a DVD out of this show.

If you are a fan, you will certainly be very happy about this show. It was their first show since 2019, for obvious reasons, and besides being really great, you can see their enthusiasm in doing it. Also, they presented us their new keyboard player, Anabelle Iratni, who does the female vocals as well.

It started with the Intro of the album Midian, At The Gates of Midian, which was almost unexpected, since this album came out such a long time ago, but it was a good surprise, as this intro has such a vibe and brings such an atmosphere.

The rest of the set list included quite a few songs from Midian as well, and something from here and from there, giving a chance to the other albums to have a song featured on the show too. It was really good that they played old school tracks as well, such as The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh, Malice Through the Looking Glass and The Twisted Nails of Faith.

The stage had a huge screen on the back, which played varied related images and also the videos of some songs, at the same time they were playing them.

And in between songs, there was a fade to almost black and back, very sober.

The show itself had some visual effects on top of the image of them performing, which was quite a cool addition to all of it. Almost forgot to mention that there were a few platforms on the front of the stage, where they would go up at every now and then, and there was also fire along the stage, on the front edge, giving a lot of movement and colour to the show.

Dani's voice was on the right point. There was perfection in there.

All very together, showing the professionalism they always show. I watched it twice and I didn't spot anything negative. Wasn't trying to, but somethings things just come up. Wasn't the case.

Anabelle is a great addition to the band. She gives a whole theatrical vibe to it live, not only for her voice (which is mezzo-soprano) and for her keyboard playing, but also for her posture and for the way she performs. You might actually know her from Devilment.