There are some funny aspects of being an early 1980’s driven Metal band. From where I’m standing, some bands mix the epochs up besides giving some modern slants to their music. Very few bands are able to emulate the atmosphere of the 1980’s head over hills. That happens becasue they use modern equipment to record their music both from the bands instruments, and mostly, due to studio equipments. Of course, de rigueur, this is not a major problem. Sometimes it’s the charm. That’s exactly what happens here with Lucifer and their album “Lucifer V.” The album is a total charm most notably because of vocalist Johanna Sadonis who, by the way, is the one that gives the modern feeling to the album.
“Lucifer V” goes easily from Black Sabbath to Judas Priest, from Jefferson Airplane to Dokken besides other minor influences. “Strange Sister,” for instance, addresses to Lita Ford. On the other hand, grand finale the ballad “Nothing Left To Lose But My Life” has that urge of those bluesy ballads of the 1970’s. It’s so emotional as it can be. Here the band shows everything they’ve emotionally got. The other ballad “Slow Dance in a Crypt” has also a Lita Ford taste with the guitar strumming and the Metal ballad cadence. “A Coffin Has No Silver Lining” gives the Dokken slant.
The album commences with the exciting “Fallen Angel” and its well-known guitar riff that always work fine. The strong chorus gives the song the catchy moody all fans adore. Johanna Sadonis’ voice gives it the element that unties the game for the band. Instant classic. The initial moments of following track “At the Mortuary” give it a Doom Metal feeling, but soon the song shifts to a middle tempo Black Sabbath inspiration with the vocals Johanna Sadonis which is always a plus and the charm. The details hidden in the song give it an unforgettable taste.
As I always say, band names do deceive. Lucifer are much more to Demon than to an Extreme Metal band as the name leads to. However, for the fans that love early 1980’s driven Metal bands the band is a spoonful. It calls the eye the neat production and the technically well-played.
Lucifer “Lucifer V” was released on January 26th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Track Listing:
- Fallen Angel
- At the Mortuary
- Riding Reaper
- Slow Dance in a Crypt
- A Coffin Has No Silver Lining
- Maculate Heart
- The Dead Don’t Speak
- Strange Sister
- Nothing Left to Lose But My Life
Watch “Maculate Heart” official music video here:
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