Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Nigredo Records
Line Up:
The prolific bassist Khrura Abro, already active in the most well-known Italian realities such as Feralia, Inchiuvatu, and Ponte del Diavolo, decides to give life to a new Raw Black Metal project backed by S from the band The Ghost Gardener; thus were born Lum and their debut EP "L'Feu e la Stria" (the fire and the witch) released in 2020 by Nigredo Records.
The band from Turin dusts off the Piedmontese folklore that speaks about "masche", witches, women with supernatural powers able to act, for good or evil, drawing energy from nature, and develops around these thematic texts in Italian, a choice that adds an aura of mystery to the whole.
Musically they offer a raw and minimal sound that enhances simple and direct songwriting, the guitars work mainly on tremolo riffs with minimal distortion like an album from the early nineties; the choice of the drums placed in the background compared to the other instruments, intensifies this sensation, the bass is very present.
The use of synths is also particularly successful, the latter cloaking the compositions with a magical atmosphere; finally, the acute and scratchy screaming of S further characterizes the sound; the imperfections of an almost direct recording that "crystallizes" the energy of the moment and almost non-existent post-production, give life to a small pearl that makes spontaneity its strength.
The short duration of the release and the quite varied compositions between them encourage repeated listening, the opener "Canto alla Luna" and the ritualistic "La Dansa Fisica" are the best episodes of the album that will certainly bewitch the listener. !
Andrea B.
