ALBUM REVIEW: Lunacrium Thepsis – The Dark Alamorté
Blackened death metal is becoming more and more popular as time progresses, with the likes of WORM SHEPHERD and SHADOW OF INTENT proving just how potent splicing the genres with symphonic offerings can be. THE DARK ALAMORTÉ are poised to stake their claim with debut effort Lunacrium Thepsis which is out today via Unique Leader Records. How will this effort stack up against its compatriots?
The Inner Quiet begins with a bleak, spoken narrative that lures you in as the intensity starts to build. It isn’t long before Cast Into Froth welcomes you with crushing blast beats and a fierce wave of orchestration. The abrasive vocals further enhance the demonic soundscape which is being forged around you. An ebbing and flowing tempo combines with sharp riffing to assault your senses.
Gowns Of Undying Light continues the carnage with commanding instrumentation that hits you from all conceivable angles. Enticing melodies mesh with distinct heaviness to create a light vs darkness type scenario. Vongrimson Burrows steps it up another gear as immersive atmospherics battle for prominence with unrelenting aggression. The chopping and changing pace assists the more destructive tones, making them sound even more devastating when unleashed from their captivity.
A Loathing Tomb keeps you on edge with its eerie, subtle introductory segment. The dramatic prose and build-up are particularly captivating. This track is packed with plentiful hooks to whet your appetite. Glasshaven sounds like it was constructed in the bowels of hell. Menacing guitar work and impactful drum beats run riot, bolstered by gruesome guttural bellows. Tempest Barren Furor feels quite subdued in comparison, allowing chunky bass lines to do the heavy lifting in the early going. It was never in any doubt that it would soon burst into additional waves of fury.
Inmergo Dominium allows for a brief moment to compose yourself, immersing you in another thought-provoking spoken word section.
Antediluvian Revelation bursts forth with vicious vocal lines and unforgiving brutality that is hellbent on beating you into submission. Infernal Judgement insists on not being outdone by its predecessor, hammering away with jabbing riffs and maniacal drum segments. The blood-curdling screams bring significant unease. This spills over into Ungiving Sorrow, the darkness begins to consume all it comes into contact with. Tusk In The Abyss goes full throttle right out of the gates. Charging onwards like a raging bull. Move out of its path or be trampled into dust.
Fearfeeder conjures up some devilishly addictive orchestration to accompany the surging drum work. The vibrant melodies hold their own whilst combatting the ongoing violence for the spotlight. Scourge Of Fire stomps its way into view, pounding what remains of your lifeless corpse. Alluring grooves keep you coming back for more. Lunacrium Thepsis intends to be the star of the show as it throws you right into the thick of it. A whirlwind of intricacy meets volleys of ghastly growls. This daring yet perfectly-executed epic adds an emphatic exclamation point on what has proven to be quite the journey.
Lunacrium Thepsis is a bold creative marvel and when you consider this is a debut release it is really rather staggering. The only issue is that a runtime vaulting way beyond the hour mark may have been a leap too far. Even the most avid fan of this wild concoction of death and black metal will find their attention spans waning in what could have quite easily been split into two full-length releases. THE DARK ALAMORTÉ have proven themselves to be top calibre musicians with this effort but it is quite a sizeable collection to digest in one sitting.
Rating: 8/10
Lunacrium Thepsis is out now via Unique Leader Records.
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