Lux Divina
Possessed by Telluric Feelings
10 Track Album
Ars Magna Recordings, Einheit Produktionen
Released 19th April 2013
Written for www.Brutalism.com
Lux Divina –
Barcelona
Links:
Genre: Nature
driven Black Metal
In the bands
own words:
“LUX DIVINA is a Nature-Driven Black Metal band
that was founded in 1998 by Norax in Barcelona/Catalonia (Spain). LUX DIVINA means “the nocturnal light”
(Noctiluca) or "the great dead Star". Their Music is based upon a
profound concept of nature philosophy. The soundscapes are clearly influenced
by the mysticism of the 90’s black metal and English doom bands, adding an
individual vision in terms of feeling, darkness and melancholy. Their songs
combine the most atmospheric lines, with some sonic passages reminiscent of
acoustic folk, progressive metal or dark metal. Music with an atmosphere “of
Nature” removed from urbanism”
After Great Pain
Sampled dark
passages begin and then a sweeping shrill mesmerising guitar washes over you,
suddenly it ignites into a feverish array of intensity as the thickened blast beats
explode, although the vocals do not do much to hold onto the moment and sound far too
clean and anxious, and just as I said that, the most harshest of vocals
bellowed out into a grisly rasping and brought a smile to my face, but return
to the clean droning again which is rather annoying.
And an intense feeling of misanthropy
Driving
forceful rhythms with a tendency to hack through the boundaries of its black
metal genre explode with some of the gnarliest of vocals amid a resonating
barrage of blasting kick beats – it is layered in thickening textures of
blackness, but again the moment is spoilt somewhat with that irritating clean
vocal as it sounds far too theatrical. However it soon returns to its gruesome
best. Although I cannot say too much as
the vocal range is steeped in diversity and very powerful but for me the
throaty lure of deep rasping is by far more pleasurable to the aural.
Discoloured with a lifeless red
A rumbling
echoing beat of thunder is announced and then a seriously shrill guitar ignites
into a hypnotic and rhythmic stance.
Again the clean vocal returns and then quickly changes to the evil
demonic un-polished variety. The guitar
is superb further on in the track and adds more than a touch of sophistication.
This has an abrasive quality.
Fagus Sylvatica – Common Beech Tree
Soft acoustic
strings come into play here amid a caressing keyboard. Further on it pads out with a superb balanced
crescendo and straight into a grisly vocal but what is going on behind the
track sounds like another track being played and so not pleasing on the ears
and that is a shame as the vocals are extremely brutal and raw, however once
again the theatrical onslaught begins and it makes me wince.
Ode to December Moon
To what sounds
like bagpipes is very intriguing indeed. Slow and haunting it pursues its compelling
path with sinewy tendons and reaches out to the listener. This is a quaint little
ballad that works well.
Lux Divina
White Poplar
More acoustic
strings hold a beautiful sway of melody and then explodes into an electric
guitar that has deep resonating qualities that feeds the track, the theatrical
tones return, however the raspy luring is not far away. The scales of the
guitar are mesmerising and are the tracks redeeming feature.
All Religions Burn
In places the
guitar sounds off key – not sure if this is meant or not never having heard the
band before but it really takes away what could be a monumental track. The
vocals are superb as they take hold in their grisly glory but Norax will insist
on displaying his anxious clean vocal in places and for me it doesn’t work at
all.
Natura Gelida - Nature's Perennial Bellflower
The smattering
of fierce winds blow violently to a Spanish overlaid voice. The haunting
intensity is whipped up by some immense guitar work that is sculptured finely
amid a sparse free flowing rhythm that has sincerity stamped all over it and
one beautiful track.
Bonescrown to the dead wolf
A deep and
profound sonic onslaught of fiery guitar resonates firmly to some sparse drum
beats that quicken in tempo and then a gnarly scathing vocal appears from the
arduous depths of blackness and we are reminded just how good a black metal
track can sound with all the right ingredients.
Groundwaters
A torrid wave
of beats monotonously attempt to make themselves heard amid a swirling and
rapturous riff that climbs and keeps climbing, meeting the grazing steely vocal
as they interlock neither giving way to the other. A climax is reached as it
scours the heights, its rifling energy increasing as do the vocal accompaniment
that is gnarled to the extreme, until the theatricals make their appearance.
To Sum up:
The concepts Lux Divina use for their unusual blend
of dark, progressive, black metal is a credit to them and a wonderful idea –
removing themselves from traditional black metal and a welcome change with more
for the listener to observe, however, disappointing in places but what it lacks
in disappointment it gains in rich guitar riffs and sonic blast beat assault. So
it is a mix of good and bad. Norax should definitely stick to singing in his
throaty rasp throughout and not bother with the theatrical, overly produced
vocal that is for sure, as it takes away the intensity of the tracks and makes
them a little uninteresting, otherwise a good diverse listen.
3/5
Track list:
After Great Pain
And an intense feeling of misanthropy
Discoloured with a lifeless red
Fagus Sylvatica
Ode to December Moon
White Poplar
All Religions Burn
Natura Gelida
Bonescrown to the dead wolf
Groundwaters
Members:
Norax - Voices & Lyrics
Gangreal - Guitars & Acoustics
Javi Bastard - Guitar
Iberian - Bass
Sergio - Drums
