Australia isn’t renowned for its dark, frost encrusted forests, primordial grimness, or it’s tales of ancient lore. But that’s exactly what Lumen Ad Mortem bring to the table, and mighty fine it is too.
Formed in 2019, the band consists of Aaron Tuck – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Gregor Pikl – Vocals and Matt “Skitz” Sanders – Drums. The band’s name translates as ‘the dying light’ and this 42-minute opus is their debut release.
Combining huge orchestral soundscapes that blend superbly with the relentless black metal assault, Upon the Edge of Darkness is an album that is explosive, engaging, and compelling. The haunting way the songs evolve works sweetly, the melodies that underpin the driving blast beats and huge riffage providing a necessary balance whilst the guttural roars of Pikl fits perfectly amongst the majestic, sprawling tracks that unfold.
There are ample nods to the night sky fires of the 1990s. The music is anthemic, epic, drawing deep on the influences of Emperor, Darkthrone, Bathory etc. Yet, it’s also contemporary rather than a mere homage, which appears to happen for so many black metal outfits these days.
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The songs are long, elongated, and elegant. The Keyboards work through their subtle delivery, never dominating but occasionally standing alone (e.g., the end of “Thought and Memory”). The decision to weave waves of orchestration through the songs is the correct one, for on tracks like “Ethereal” and “The Voices from the Stream” they provide just the right amount of uplift to elevate the songs above the routine. And yet, Lumen Ad Mortem retain the necessary ferocity and darkness to provide instantaneous gratification for those in need of their black metal fix, for the band simply steamroller their way through the six tracks, providing a brutal and intense soundtrack that never falters.
Despite the length of most songs, there’s a captivating spell cast from their blistering frenzy that they unleash. The symphonic elements provide the depth, but at its core, this is a trio committed to unleashing a sonic assault, for which there is no cure or safety net. By the time you reach “Narrow Paths and Stony Ground”, the only thing you’ll want to do is press play again for this is an absorbing and creative debut.
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Upon the Edge of Darkness is out on January 27th
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Lumen Ad Mortem: official | facebook | instagram | spotify | bandcamp
https://youtu.be/fjuokCnAOEQ
