2024-01-22 10:44:53
Lotus Thief / Forlesen – Split EP
Origin: USA
Release: 26.01.2024
Label: I, Voidhanger Records
Duration: 23:10
Genre: Ambient / Doom / Post Black Metal
Lotus Thief and Pre-read Not only do they have the country of origin in common, but they also overlap in terms of personnel. Nevertheless, both bands stand for themselves and the unconventional combination of different musical fields. They use elements of ambient, doom and black metal.
Both groups create long, deep compositions that the listener can and must completely let themselves fall into. The unnamed one discussed here Split EP Unfortunately only consists of two songs. The attribute unfortunately I had to forgive it because the result is simply fantastic, but there are only two songs left to listen to with twenty-three minutes of playing time.
The art of celebration
Lotus Thief open with In Perditionwhich is musically by Giovanni Boccaccios Text The Decameron is inspired from the 14th century. Included in The Decameron a series of short stories set in the medieval Black Plague period.
The song begins quietly, fragile and with complex vocals and sounds. Lotus Thief are masters of celebration. They don’t write a song, they create a composition. Nothing can push them and so the band takes all the time in the world to build up the emotions and drama musically. The singing and music intensify in waves over the course of minutes until emotions bubble over. Even though the song is at one hundred percent from the middle, hold on Lotus Thief the tension and take us until the end of the twelve minutes. An excerpt from the opening part of In Perdition you can HERE listen.
Towards the end
Pre-read are derived from their previous work, perhaps the band with the harder musical foundation. Also at Black is the Color A traditional material served as a template for a dark, emotional composition. An old ballad from the Appalachian region regarding love, loss and grief served as its origin and inspiration.
Black is the Color initially only offers static drumming and polyphonic singing, which resembles a funeral march. The resulting pain mixes with subliminal growls. Heavy riffs spread darkness, which the piano sounds don’t lighten up. The sound thickens layer upon layer. Every key press on the piano sounds like a small pain. A dreamy and lonely guitar solo is played. When the singing finally falls silent, the drums still resonate, even if the march of mourners can no longer be seen in the gray.
What remains to be said
Both compositions on the EP are linked by historical origins as well as the subject matter and drama. It is certainly not easy to process popular music, but the thematic processing and perfect implementation creates images in the head that make it easy for the listener to let themselves fall into the music.
Even though both bands recorded in different studios, there are no differences in terms of production technology. The final artwork was a woodcut called The Whore of Babylon von Albrecht Dürer of the series Die Apocalypse used, which makes the publication even more complete.
Conclusion
This split EP sets stories and emotions to music. Even if Lotus Thief in my ears with In Perdition sound clearer and more spacious Pre-read with Black is the Color an almost perfect realization of grief and pain. For lovers of emotions, darkness and great compositions, the EP is unmissable. 9 / 10
Line Up
Lotus Thief
Ascalaphus – Harscher Gesang
Sonnungr – percussion instruments
Bezaelith – vocals, bass, guitar, synthesizer, mandolin
Petit Albert – Electric and acoustic guitar, synthesizer
Mohrany – backing vocals
Romthulus – guitar
Pre-read
Ascalaphus – vocals, guitar
Bezaelith – vocals, guitar, bass
Petit Albert – Hammondorgel, Piano
Maleus – Drums
Tracklist
01. In Perdition
02. Black is the Color
Links
Facebook Lotus Thief
Instagram Lotus Thief
Facebook Forlesen
Instagram Forlesen
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Interview – Harvest, asked by Witch N. and Noir
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