ALBUM REVIEW: La Ilden Lyse – Okkultokrati
Since their inception in 2008, Oslo’s OKKULTOKRATI have been drawing from a very eclectic palette of influences. The non-restrictive extract of black metal and hardcore punk with hard rock riffing brings a much-have dose of heterogeneity to the otherwise well-ingrained music styles. But no matter the path they take, OKKULTOKRATI do nothing but welcome the nature of high-spirited punk sound.
The group’s fifth full-length effort, La Ilden Lyse, is subject to the intimidating task of preventing OKKULTOKRATI from succumbing to staleness, especially after their previous offering Raspberry Dawn was seen as one that gained quite a bit of traction for the band. It’s interesting that, instead of opting for a more technical approach like many of their peers, the Oslo act declines to join the group of easygoers, crafting an album that calls into question why such an amalgam exists nowhere else. Thelemic Threat is a perfect example – especially the lustrous vocals of Henning, who screams in typical black metal fashion, but actually sounds very anarchic. One thing which remains intact on an OKKULTOKRATI release is just how dominant the guitar riffs are, and if anything they’ve grown substantially since the band’s emergence on the scene. On La Ilden Lyse they are straightforwardly monumental, and no matter if it’s the entirety of a song, the opening, or the prologue, they are in the total command.
On La Ilden Lyse, OKKULTOKRATI seem sincerely determined on straying outside of their natural habitat and additional genre hybridization is found on tracks like Loathe Forever, Freezing Vortex Death Dreamer, and Lunatics-Mondsüchtig which turn the tide in a way with isolating, spaced-out atmospherics. That is not to say that OKKULTOKRATI have forsaken their genuine disorderly noise—contrary to that—in songs like Grimoire Luciferian Dream and Cold and Cruel, they exploit their distinct rawness and blend it with new ideas.
There are a number of songs on La Ilden Lyse that undoubtedly sound like an OKKULTOKRATI song. If they even come close to be labeled under the “traditional” tag, then it’s unburied in tracks like Kiss of Death and the closing The Dying Grass Moon. Both feature plethora of captivating riffing parts that stretch throughout, as well as melodic backbones that give the album a sense of liveliness. These layered melodies and riffs come out from every direction on La Ilden Lyse, which make pieces like Mother Superior overpoweringly enjoyable.
La Ilden Lyse is the clever evolution of a band that has remained true to their origins, but also displayed their potency as songwriters and musicians—a great amalgamation which makes for a very welcome addition to their opus.
Rating: 8/10
La Ilden Lyse is out on May 15th via Southern Lord Recordings.
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