Nihilistic Purity

In all of what I admit to be a short, adolescent life, very few times have I ever heard such monumentally crushing, depressive, tortured, and generally unpleasant sounds ring through my ears in a harmonious yet dissonant tide of, to quote the album, self-destruction. From the first track to the last on this thirty minute EP released in 2007 by the British black metal band Lyrinx, you know a hellish descent is taking place. The music at first seems like some typical depressive black metal, with some buildup and atmosphere, but then the instrumental kicks in and all hell breaks loose. The vocals, oh the vocals, sound like a man screaming in agony just before the last in a series of stabs from a killer fully intent on snuffing out his life. It all rolls downhill from there.

To accuse the lyrics of subtlety is to accuse a sex addict with penile cancer of being one lucky bastard. With lyrics such as “Only negative emotions are real,” “Without hope we are truly free,” and of course, the ever-peachy “Suicide, suicide, suicide,” this band loves its angst. Not that that is the worst thing in the world. After all, I don’t think the lyrics are the focus here. Besides, it’s not as if you’re going to understand them without a lyrics sheet anyways. There are however, two prevailing issues with the EP.

My issues with the EP start with the repetition and the lack of variation from song to song. That is not to say that this album should be focused on being eclectic, and diverse with a huge range of colors and cultures integrated. That is left to more experimental genres of metal. However, it is to say that the EP does not do much with the sound that it has in terms of shaking things up. A couple of the songs here sound nearly interchangeable and that is a rather bad thing.

The broader issue that I have with this EP is the mood. Now I do love albums and EPs with dark, depressing moods. Such moods comprise the majority of the music that I listen to, and this is no exception. But it is almost too dark for its own good. To elaborate, this EP is so dark, so oppressive, so bleak in nature that I see many people just listening to it, turning it off, and determining that what they listened to was overbearing to the point of being unlistenable. Or, if they are less easily affected, they will probably determine that it is nothing but angst and garbage. Though the latter I don’t think this kind of music appeals to anyways, so they are less concerning. But to be honest I don’t know if the band was concerned with either of these types of people. This just sounds like music that was made bleak on a deep, personal level. Not Lurker of Chalice personal, but personal none the less.

All in all, while each individual track isn’t necessarily as memorable as I would like them to be, I think this EP is a very good, if somewhat flawed listen, when taken in as a whole. In my opinion, there are many more things to like, than there are to hate. So in other words, it’s some dark shit man. Give it a try.

Lyrinx create an air of total desolation across five tracks on this, their first official release. As self-confessed nihilists, you would expect a bleak experience, and they don't disappoint. The sleeve notes claim that "This particular release concentrates on the psychological effects of [nihilism] on the human mind." Judging by the music, the effects of nihilism must be something close to desperation and total oppression.

The whole atmosphere is a dense fog of loathing and searing anger, helped in no small part by the close production and the built-in compression of the cassette format itself. This is not an obscure mix though, and all the instruments stand apart, with the vocals leading from out front. They are clear and the obvious focal point, but they never distract from the entire sound. The performance is feral but not entirely manic; almost the halfway point between Vikernes' battle cries and Nattramn's asylum music.

As for the music itself: Nihilistic Purity is an uncharacteristically riffs-orientated recording for a depressive black metal band. There is a definite preference of musicality over the sloppy, ninety-percent-breakdown style that many bands in this area of black metal usually adopt. The title track is the best example of Lyrinx' melodic side, with a recurring hook which breaks the first rule of the genre by actually being quite catchy.

If there is one minor gripe to be found here it is the clean guitar break at the end of "Exit - the Pain of Existence", which stalls the flow of an otherwise killer track. It's safe to say that if Darkthrone can't make a folk interlude work on "In the Shadow of the Horns", then probably no-one can. It recovers well though, and the ending is strong.

Listening to this, it is easy to forget that Nihilistic Purity is only the first official release from Lyrinx. There is a hell of a lot of potential here in both the music and the apparently thematic style of the recordings. They blend the controlled chaos of recent Mayhem with the intuitive melody of Ukranian black metal and the released frustration of Silencer with great style. This recording has now seen a release on every audio format, so there is really no excuse not to have it!



(written for Blast!zine issue one: http://www.myspace.com/blastzine)

Over a decade after Black Metal’s 2nd wave phased out, there are many who have given up on the genre. They claim that this once flourishing movement has given way to stagnation. Either you sound like a clone band or you forfeit your sound for other styles. LYRINX, lurking in the UK, are proof that Black Metal can still sound fresh with the standard instrumentation.

Hitting play I was greeted with an unsettling dissonance of guitars reverbed to the max. As this noise built into the first song I was entranced by unique riffs, tremolos and chord progressions played with emotion. This passion was matched by the vocals, quite similar to Malefic, but even more evocative.

And speaking of XASTHUR, any fans of the USBM figurehead will crave this British four-piece. Just listen to “Deconstruction of the Will to Live” and tell me this EP wasn’t produced by Malefic himself. The most impressive aspect of this album is indeed the production, with a powerful atmosphere that never feels disconnected, thanks in part to the drums. The audible bass really helps drive the mood and completes to tri-fold wall of sound that surrounds you on all sides and drags you into a melancholic abyss.

There are few things about this EP I can complain about. The song structures are brilliant, but the drumming could have been more varied. And the final track is unnecessary, a bad recording of the second song.

This half hour of sonic bliss is worthy of attention not just to fans of XASTHUR or NACHTMYSTIUM, but to any Black Metal fan who needs to replenish their faith in a genre still going strong worldwide. Keep on the lookout for their debut album coming out later this year. LYRINX’s creative potential shouldn’t be wasted in the depths of the underground.

Written for The Metal Observer: http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=14380

In reading the reviews for this, I thought I had a good idea as to what this band stood for and what they were all about. Boy, was I wrong. Depressive thoughts? Suicidal tendencies? Not quite strong enough to describe the absolute assault on your mind, on your body, and on your soul this release will create. It shook me to my core the first time I heard it. I felt like I was in the middle of a blizzard with sub-absolute zero temperatures as I listened.

The vocalist made me feel his absolute anguish as I listened to every second of it. His blackness of heart came out in his voice. His despair and depression was captured in the very essence of this release. Raw emotion and passion comes out from his voice and pulls the listener in, taking the listener on a journey into the darkest corners of the world, devoid of any light or goodness. Nothing but morbid visions of reality surround you as you listen to the vocalists so very tormented screams. Nihilism never felt so good.

The production was just right for this album. It was raw, yet it provided accessibility to the instruments. They did not sound like one muddled mess like most raw productions are. You could make out each and every instrument, yet still feel the cold and evil rawness of each.

The drums in this album did nothing special, yet did not take away from the music. There is nothing needed to be said about them.

The guitarist put a very doomy feel to his riffs. It adds much atmosphere to the album, yet again taking you on a trip of sorts. The eerie effects used on the guitar provides a void. Nothing exists in this void. It's a grey area, where no light, no darkness, and most importantly, no reality can possibly reach it. It detaches you from the sun-lit world and throws you into a spiraling chasm of blackness, creating nothing but a sense of turmoil in your mind.

An audible bassist is a rarity in black metal, and when it is audible, it usually does not do too much anyway. Such is not the case here. The bass lines added to this album add to the atmosphere as well. The rather repetitive bass lines add to the blackness of soul this album has. The audible bass lines prove that there is a low end that one would not want to hit, for it will cause sheer destruction to the person.

In conclusion, this release is NOT for everybody. You thought Malefic was depressive? Well, even he sounds like sunshine and happy days compared to this band. Lyrinx is the sole epitome of depressiveness and blackness of body and soul. If you are prepared to feel worthless, then by all means take a listen. If you want to keep your worth and dignity though, steer clear, for this is clearly not for you.

It almost seems a bit daft to get excited over a demo such as this. When you remember that the songs you're listening to are entitled Deconstruction Of The Will To Live, Another Life Ready To End etc, you wonder if you should take the hint and jump off the nearest bridge instead of telling your mates what a great listening experience you've had. Perhaps sharing this experience will encourage them to jump off bridges instead. I can only hope so.

*ahem* In all seriousness, this is a good piece of underground depressive Black Metal. There are some recognisible influences here - the guitar tone in the intro of Tides Of Self-Destruction; shrill, faint and echoey, reminds me of Burzum, along with the hypnotic repitition of riffs and Brennuvargr's tortured shrieks. Comparisons to Burzum would be easy to make, but it has to be emphasised that Lyrinx are far from a clone band. The style here is one that, though it may be familiar to experienced Black Metal listeners, I find to be distinct to the band. Any Burzum influences are therefore a natural continuation of music that has come before, as opposed to imitation bordering on plagurism. Lengthy songs (6 - 10 minutes here, as the last two tracks segue into each other) drawn out by extensive repetition of riffs are a hallmark of this style anyway - and like Burzum, the riffs are never overused and/or abused despite this usage.

Lyrinx have further made their mark by the use of the instruments. This is one of the few Black Metal releases I have heard with an audible bass - a simple enough matter, but very effective here against shrill and echoey guitar tone (not nearly as faint once the demo kicks in proper); which is distinct in itself. Both drums and bass can be discerned with clarity, and blastbeating has been forsaken until The Pain Of Existance, with regular beats being used throughout up til this point. These are played competently and effectively - what Hendrik Möbus should have been as a drummer, really.
It is not merely the rhythym section that sets the band apart from others of their kind. The riffs, simply constructed and alternating between traditional tremelo picking and power chords, start to become familiar after repeated listening. The aforementioned guitar tone and structure of the songs allow one to become lost in the music - ideal for lighting up one last joint and contemplating suicide. No lyrics will ever be picked out of the vocals, but the words themselves are of secondary importance to how these cries sound against the music. It all forms a natural whole, and it works. I recently cited Watain as an example of a Black Metal band who continued to make new releases that were fresh and good for the genre. Add Lyrinx to this short list as well.

Originally written for http://www.metalmongrel.com

In all my years of listening to Black Metal and Metal as a whole, I haven't heard many things as depressing as this. Nihilistic Purity is so utterly bleak it is almost unbearable. I happened to come across this release while searching for information on Austere's future plans, and oh how lucky I am to have found them.

Lyrinx are a relatively new band from the U.K. Founder 'L' has recruited fellow band mates Brennuvargr on vocals, Lentus on bass and Ego Exitium on drums to help realise his dream. What we have here is emotion at its purest form. This is more than just music, this touches a place deep inside that wishes to cry out for help.

The music in this release may not be anything completely new to the genre, but the execution is amazing. The guitars are at the forefront of the music, which allows you to become lost in the waves of sound. While some bands may have a habit of going from a great riff to a mediocre one in no time. Lyrinx are able to barrage you with stunning riffs one after another. They never give up as you start to wish for the melancholy to cease. Every other instrument can be heard well, and for a demo I would say this has great production. The music drones as to create a sense of entrancement. But never gets boring or goes on too long. There are enough changes in the music to keep you aware without loosing interest. No lyrics are provided, but there really is no need. Brennuvargr's vocals are some of the most sorrow-filled and tormented I have ever heard. He literally sounds like he has been tortured for months and just wants it all to end. When he screams out in agony, I feel like I must as well.

The highlight of Nihilistic Purity is no doubt 'Deconstruction Of The Will To Live'. No matter how many times I listen to this song, it still makes me feel completely worthless. Just when you think the pain is over, it just continues until you are exhausted. I highly recommend anyone thinking of checking out Lyrinx to listen to this song which can be found on their official MySpace. It leaves me speechless everytime I hear it. I wish I could explain what this song conveys, but it's beyond anything I could think of.

Lyrinx is a band that deserves more recognition then they are currently getting. I hope for their sake that when their upcoming releases with Austere and Elysian Blaze/DOR come out, they are seen as what they really are; A top act in the Black Metal genre. Nihilistic Purity is a release for those who wish to see emotion in its most honest and vulnerable state. This is a masterpiece of art that would be a shame if not heard.