Beneath Lucifer's Eye

Syöpä came as a surprise to me. I received this demo a few years ago and never really paid it much mind. Initial listens didn't hold my attention and I relegated it to the "Ebay bin." I couldn't have been more wrong. Perhaps tastes have changed or I just gave it more time, but I now see this as a sadly overlooked piece of orthodox black metal art.

First of all, Beneath Lucifer's Eye open up with "Skinning the Lamb of God." This track has a bit of a slow and doomy start but soon moves to fast riffing and shrieking vocals. The blast beat parts remind me a bit of fellow Fins, Katodus and that is not an insult. There are some doomy parts here and there and the overal feel is mighty and hateful.

"Raise the Serpent Sculpture" is next and starts off mid-paced with the shrieking vocals. This soon gives way to a faster pace that musically reminds me of Setherial or something Swedish, though not as melodic. The majority of this song remains this way and isdefinitely a thrashing good time with some of the mid-paced parts thrown in occasionally for some balance. Definitely a stand out track.

The third opus, the title track, "Beneath Lucifer's Eye" starts off side two with a bit of a harsh noise feel and moans and shrieks of the undead. The distorted guitar has an Xasthur feel gives a sort of uneasiness to the track. This all fades out rather quickly and gives way to the final track.

"Dagger from the Depths" is the last track and begins with fast drumming and Abyssic Hate type riffs. The riffs stay repetitive and give this track a hypnotic feel. At times there's even a bit of a "Carelian Satanist Madness" era Satanic Warmaster feel with the repetitive riffs and faster paced drums. Overall a great track and a killer way to end this release.

"Beneath Lucifer's Eye" is definitely a release that was a proper swan song for this Finnish group. Not sure where the members went after this, but I do know the few years of Syöpä were ones not wasted and your time won't be wasted seeking this release out for some good ol' blackened Finnish art.