Lucifer: The Second Coming
Earlier this year heavy rock band LUCIFER released their second album, Lucifer II. The album took off like a storm and kick-started a fresh start for the band after its predecessor Lucifer I. For vocalist Johanna Sadonis this release was very much a second chance to put her concept of what she wanted LUCIFER to sound like out there for us all to see.
“When I founded LUCIFER, the concept was that of a very heavy 70s influenced band. When Gaz [Jennings] joined and we wrote Lucifer I together, the sound became way more doom than I had originally envisioned. Which was great, I am fond of the first album.” – Sadonis mentions, “However, when Gaz left I took the chance to take LUCIFER to the original idea. Put more weight on the 70s Heavy Rock with only a dash of classic Doom. Opposed to the opposite.”
Thankfully the move back to Sadonis’ original vision was not one in the wrong direction and earned a few chart entries in various countries. When a departure of a core songwriter happens in a band it can rock the boat, but it appears that LUCIFER played to the strengths and even more so when Nicke Andersson joined the fold as the next core writer with Sadonis.
“I asked myself how it would be best to continue” Sadonis admits before carrying on, “But life has its magic ways. This turned out to be one hell of a lucky twist in the story of LUCIFER! Writing Lucifer II together with Nicke is certainly my personal milestone by far.” The experience was new for Andersson aswell as he previously only did writing by himself but described Sadonis as ‘amazing to work with’, and that he cannot wait to work on the next album together.
Getting Lucifer II ready though was something the pair wanted to get on with though as opposed to hanging around and getting a full line-up sorted out before recording. They knew exactly how this album wanted to sound, they had their chance to really create the true essence of LUCIFER and they went with it. Andersson played the majority of the instruments on the recording of the album in his own studio which quickened up the process.
What makes the sound of Lucifer II so special is that this was entirely from the heart and it was made with a passion of that classic 70s hard rock sound. Everything that Sadonis and Andersson had in mind was all born from a time they believe was best for rock music, “Fact is that the wheel can’t be re-invented. Rock music was at its best in the 70s. Why go for anything less than best?” Sadonis states.
This didn’t just include the sound for LUCIFER, for everyone to have the same vision and same taste was important for the new chapter in the band’s future. “We picked people not only by their talent and personality but also by their style, taste and looks. It’s not even a joke I’m saying this.” It might be an outlook some people disagree with but the logic is understandable as already the original vision was not captured on the first release, when it comes to capturing that raw classic hard rock essence you have to be 100% into it.
Lucifer II was much more than a second album for LUCIFER, it was them on a path of determination to really deliver something that they loved and they wanted to create. It was a chance for Sadonis to really put out something she wanted from the beginning. The band are already geared up for writing their third album, but in the meantime these hard rockers have found their place and planted their feet firmly on the ground.
Lucifer II is out now via Century Media Records.
Like LUCIFER on their official page on Facebook.
