Gedachte & geheugen

Well, I’ll just come right out and say that I think this is probably Lugubrum’s worst, or at best, least interesting, album. It’s not too bad, but neither is it going to change anyone’s world or leave you feeling gobsmacked and disoriented or with a ridiculous grin on your face like much of their later stuff will.

The most interesting thing about this, probably, is it’s “half ‘n’ half” nature. If you have this on record, I expect, you have a metal side and an ambient side. The metal stuff is more aggressive and ugly than what can be heard on the first album, Winterstones. however, their “semi-pro drummer” (the band’s words, not mine) has yet to join the band, and that means the drumming still has the somewhat laid-back approach of the previous album, which doesn’t fit this material as well, simply because it’s calling for more power and aggression. Also, most of the riffs just aren’t that great. Once one has gotten past the general abrasiveness of everything (a really loud, distorted mix, caustic vocals and frantically sawing guitars), you might in fact find that some of the patterns here are a little on the obnoxious side. They’re certainly not trying to endear you with anything pretty or majestic.

On the other hand, there is some genuine beauty to be heard in the second half of the album, which is made up of a variety of short, simple synthesiser pieces utilising cold brass, string and percussive tones. Every so often, someone will mutter something portentous-sounding in Flemish. Burzum wouldn’t be a bad reference point for some of this stuff, but Lugubrum generally state themes a lot less and are happy to get things over and done with in a concise manner. I’m glad they didn’t do more like this, though. It’s not remarkable, and sounds like a side-step or detour from the path they needed to take. The band could well have gotten lost here, and then, what a poorer world we would live in. In an interview I once read, Midgaars said he sold the synth he used here to the band’s bassist, and, but for some minor synth usage on, for instance, Albino de Congo, it may as well have been buried deep in a closet full of pantaloons. I have nothing against synthesisers or these kinds of explorations; I just feel this kind of work is nothing very special in black metal circles. Remember when it seemed like every European black metal “genius” (and some US-based ones too for that matter) seemed to have their own albums of synthesiser doodlings?

I’m sorry i really don’t have much to say about this, but it’s the kind of thing that belies the fact that this band would in short order become something remarkable. It lacks much personality. The metal half is kind of dull, and I feel almost awkward admitting that I prefer the ambient half even though it’s no great shakes either. Some of the consonances are pleasing to the ear, after all, but that’s hardly what I listen to Lugubrum for. The band was still in its prepubescent phase, essentially feeling its way around, and this hasn’t got the charm and appeal of Winterstones.