Dalkhu - "Lamentation and Ardent Fire" (Godz ov War Productions, 2018)

 Band: Dalkhu
 Title: Lamentation and Ardent Fire
 Genre: Black Metal
 Time: 42.53 min
 Release Date: 17th September 2018
 Rating: 84/100











Behind the elegant digipack of "Lamentation and Ardent Fire", third album of the Slovenian trio Dalkhu and released by Godz ov War Productions, are hidden 7 songs where you will be embraced by a particular form of black metal.

I used the term "particular" because, combining an old-school style with a modern one, it's a black metal characterized by nervous and very dynamic drums, intricate riffs always divided between melodies and more wicked parts, and a versatile vocal department able to be classic, frightful (like in "A Race Without Hope"), and also imaginative thanks to the inclusion, for example, of evocative clean ("The Dead Sleep with Their Eyes Open") as well guttural and mantric vocals ("Profanity Galore"). In addition of this, you  have to expect also to listen to some guitar solos, layered riffs due to a lead guitar which plays even unusual melodies, and a slight dose of keyboards, that are present in the mysterious and creepy "A Race Without Hope". This last one is also the most special track into the album, even because it lasts only 3 minutes and a half when many songs are longer (6-7 minutes).

If all this wasn't enough, I have to compliment with the band to writing lyrics that are truly poetic and suggestive. For this purpose, I must absolutely to mention "I Am...", which has lyrics that I suggest you to read since I don't want to spoiler what is the (terrifying) entity that "speaks" through the song!

 In brief, we're talking about an album that shows a creative black metal sound that is (almost) flawless. I said "flawless" because the drums are so nervous to be sometimes too chaotic and confusing, so I think that they needed to be more linear for a better effectiveness but, mind you, this doesn't seriously ruin the very good quality of "Lamentation and Ardent Fire". Said all this shit, Dalkhu, whose new singer Lucerus sings also in Cvinger (a band belonging to the roster of Art Gates Records, a long-time partner of Timpani allo Spiedo 'zine, as you know), played their first gig after 6 years of live inactivity on 7th March, sharing the stage with the local melodic black metallers Agan. Were you there, Slovenian brutalbangers?

Tracklist:

1 - Profanity Galore
2 - I Am...
3 - Rime
4 - A Race Without Hope
5 - Gaps of Existence
6 - The Dead Sleep with Their Eyes Open
7 - Night

Line-up:

Lucerus - vocals
J.G. - guitars/bass
Kalki - drums

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dalkhu/213754775432409
BandCamp: https://dalkhuofficial.bandcamp.com/
Godz ov War Productions: http://godzovwar.com/