Black Metal History Month - LVME : "Of Sinful Nature"

This project treads the well-worn path of black metal. The nuances are subtle but present.  In some ways, this is another example of how being too devout to tradition can cause uniformity, Some songs carry more ebb and flow, 'Without Light Nor Guide" being one of the more dynamically flowing pieces. The first song also felt more unique, though by the second song, the buzz of guitar created a droning blur that carried you into the album that was becoming sonic wallpaper as I typed. The vocals are a choked mid-range snarl, that does not articulate for the lyrics to be anything more than an obligatory human impulse imprinted on their sound. 

The song titles are poetic, so it is a shame the message is lost in the blur of sound. However, these guys are not the worst offenders when it comes to the song vs sound war that rages in music today. The second song is the shortest at under six minutes, and most rage past the nine-minute mark. Not sure that playing longer makes anything more effective here, but it is a common black metal trope that this project has succumbed to. Is there a creepy chill to the music? Yes? if that is all you need from black metal then this album has you covered. The drummer is talented and capable of more than blast beats, though when it comes to metal he should be. 

The eerie melodic qualities that haunt "Into Ashen Stone" give the song more of its own personality which is what this album needs more of. The drummer once again deserves recognition, for serving the songs and keeping things well-paced. Sure it escalates into blast beats at times, but not until it has already been contrasted by the song's dreary throb. The last song only retains some of their more interesting atmospheric qualities and tends to follow the more typical depressive path of black metal. However, this still aches with sonic dissonance that is pleasing to the ears. I will give this one an 8.5, they have a lot of potential and a great deal of it was realized here, I just wish the vocals had more purpose, but aside from that they create great downtrodden black metal. 

pst78