Resonance - Lumen Ad Mortem - A Grave Ascent
- Sparky
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
A Grave Ascent - Lumen Ad Mortem 9/10
Hailing from what is undeniably the extreme metal state of South Australia Is Lumen Ad Morten. Following up from their debut 2023 release ‘Upon the Edge of Darkness’ is ‘A Grave Ascent’, an album of atmospheric black metal that is so utterly uncompromising displaying their immense musical capabilities and depth.
A Grave Ascent is an album of contrasts. Its overwhelming sense of melancholy is marked by extreme tremolo and tempos, that the faster it gets the more depth it creates. It is an unhurried sound that is full of thunderous double kicks and some wonderful orchestrations. The devil is in the details and Lumen Ad Mortem are blessed with a plethora of them. The riff that floats above the fury of the truly epic “And What is Yet to Loose” is simply majestic, its back-and-forth dynamics creating a sense of impending inevitability and frantic denial, its cleaner moments offer little respite, the atmosphere thick and rich in texture. The riffs that plague ‘Ghost Gums’ are excellent along with the varied vocal performance of Gregor Pikl that is so utterly convincing it is apoplectic in gravitas and power. The keyboards are so intrinsic to a sound that is monstrous and diverse. The coda to ‘’The Departed’’ is the perfect ending to the blackened assault that preceded it.
A Grave Ascent is an album that leaves an indelible mark on the psyche, it is modern black metal of the highest order, yet it is so much more. It unleashes melodies that are haunting and its sense of isolation is tangible and authentic. Its themes carry so much weight along with being remarkably heavy and diverse. Lumen Ad Mortem have created a truly formidable piece avant garde extreme art.
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