(written by Islander)
The abandonment of vowels doesn’t obscure the meaning of LVTHN, a plain enough reference to the titanic serpent of primeval origin, the draconic embodiment of chaos, and in Revelations a manifestation of the power of the Devil. Isaiah prophesied that this “tortuous serpent” would be destroyed by the Almighty at the end of time, but in the meantime the Belgian band LVTHN continue offering musical devotionals of revelation and ruin in the name of the Adversary.
The title of LVTHN‘s forthcoming second album, The Devil’s Bridge, emblazons their inspiration. As described on behalf of Amor Fati Productions, which will release the album on September 6th: “This is a work of devotion. A weapon of Will. A hymn to Lucifer, as light-bearer and destroyer alike…. It is music as weapon. Music as curse. Music as rite.” The bridge is both a metaphor and a a real place of experience, and on the other side the Devil awaits: “Not as myth, but as force, as initiator, as destroyer of illusions.”
We have one aspect of the architecture of this bridge in a song from the album we’re now premiering: “Mother of Abominations“.
Photo Credit: Void Revelations
Nine long years have passed since LVTHN‘s first album, and even six years since their last release of any kind (a split with Häxenzijrkell). As this new song proves, time has not diminished the ferocity of their black metal, but it represents experiences of more dimensions than sheer chaos and violence.
The sounds are startling, marrying maniacally roiling and feverishly undulating guitars with furious percussive weaponry, but also interspersing gloriously soaring tones and bounding beats. It does indeed sound like a musical tapestry of both ruin and revelation.
The vocals are definitely an agent of ruin and rage, the kind of utterly berserk screams and wild cries that make one think of a person possessed by diabolical forces. The surrounding sounds also often sound possessed. The elaborately fashioned and frequently changing riffs, which combine elements of caustic abrasion and clarion clarity, conjure visions of blistering chaos and mystical high-arcing glory, as well as moods of fear, agony, and triumph.
But still there’s more. Freezing gasps and skipping beats join together with a brightly ringing melody to create an aura of occult incantation. That intriguing spell grows increasingly sinister, and while the lead guitar continues to seductively ring, the music and the vocals unleash violence once more at the end. At the very end the mad voice expels a long howl of unchained intensity.
It’s a fascinating and multi-faceted song, a song of malice and exaltation, of madness and magic — and it’s a hook-laden one too, with many of its facets getting lodged in the head.
Amor Fati will release The Devil’s Bridge on CD and vinyl LP formats. On the title track Kark of Dødsengel provides a possessed guest vocal appearance. Credit for the striking cover art goes to the always-accomplished Adam Burke. Find more info via the links below.
Also be sure to listen to the album’s first advance track, “A Malignant Encounter – The Master“. It’s every bit as fascinating and head-spinning as the song we’ve just premiered, and indeed even more kaleidoscopic in its tones and sensations.
In its glorious brazenness it sounds near-symphonic, like horns lifted as heralds of glory; but it also includes feral, highly head-moving riffage and episodes that sound like whirling dances of witches and warlocks, all of it accompanied by the warm hum of a very nimble bass. And of course it also ruthlessly attacks.
PRE-ORDER:
https://shop.amor-fati-productions.de/de/
LVTHN:
https://www.facebook.com/adversarialism
https://lvthn.bandcamp.com/