Lauxnos, the Russian atmospheric post-metal band who took their name from an old Prussian word that refers to the stars, the moon, and the dawn, have built a conceptual story line over the course of three albums that tells of escape from the hardships of daily life and immersion in the mysteries of dark ocean waters where peace might be found, but where raging storms also threaten a different kind of oblivion.
The third of those albums, Crushed By Waves, will be jointly released on June 11th by Symbol of Domination (a sub-label of Satanath Records) and The Ritual Productions. Today we present the debut of the album’s title track, which, like Poseidon’s domain itself, is immersive and multi-faceted.
Like the stars above in an indigo sky, there is radiance in the song. Reverberating notes with a subdued and moody but mystical resonance open the track, and reappear again later (when that spectral refrain is joined by a vivid, tumbling drum progression). Yet there is dark power in the song as well. Long moaning tones join in, channeling sorrow, and the music’s intensity builds when battering drums appear along with a harsh, howling voice that scorches the senses, coupled with swirls of searing riffage and a desolate lead-guitar melody.
The music’s cast is forlorn, even as it ebbs and flows like the tide. When the sound surges again after the afore-mentioned interlude, the guitars cry out in a wailing harmony, the drums begin to blast, the voice vents a wrenching anguish, but as the dual guitars carry the song’s melancholy melody forward, the sound ascends to splendorous heights.
The releasing labels recommend Crushed By Waves for fans of Falloch, Alcest, and Harakiri for the Sky. It features artwork by Paint-It-Black Design, and it was recorded, mixed, and mastered by LXNS Music. You’ll find pre-order links below, as well as a stream of the previously released track “Lord of the Wild Waters” (which is also free to download at Bandcamp), and of course our premiere of the title track.
PRE-ORDER:
https://symbolofdomination.bandcamp.com/album/sodp118-lauxnos-crushed-by-waves-2019
https://www.facebook.com/theritual.prod/
LAUXNOS:
https://www.facebook.com/lauxnos/
TRACK LIST:
01. The Voice Of Dead Ocean
02. Crushed By Waves
03. In Total Darkness
04. Whose Dream You Don’t Dare Disturb
05. Hidden Ancient World
06. Bordering The Dawn
07. Through The Gates
08. Lord Of The Wild Waters
09. Her Name Is Thousands Of Stars
Length – 45:37
3 Responses to “AN NCS PREMIERE: LAUXNOS — “CRUSHED BY WAVES””
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Post-metal is still a term that confuses me. I don’t know what it means or how it came to be.
At face value, it seems to imply that metal is over and this is the style that emerged in its place. But if this subgenre is metal, that definition doesn’t make sense.
I’ve always understood that the term originated from the combination of post-rock and metal. There’s a whole lot more background than you probably want to read available here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-metal
Interesting, thanks. I think we’ve gone a bit crazy with the subgenres, and a helluva lot of them could be lumped together. But hardcore music enthusiasts seem to love ’em.