Limbonic

Limbonic Art “Moon In The Scorpio”
Nocturnal Art Productions , 1996
Lord Pale :
Epic , majestic , cosmic blackmetal from Norway . Limbonic Art sound something like an operatic mixture of Arcturus and Mysticum or an astral version of Cradle Of Filth . With artwork and lyrics focusing on the cosmos and psychotic maliciousness , Limbonic Art present sweeping orchestral passages of keyboards combined with fast to mid tempo blackmetal guitars and predominantly snatting vocals . Generic they are not however , they sound unique in their style and have many different tempo shifts and vocal styles including opera , deathy , and female . Sample effects are also used such as ravens cries and odd eerie wind noises that sound like they belong in the abyss of outer space . Limbonic Art utilises a drum machine which adds to their unique sound . All the artwork is done by lead guitarist , keyboard player and backing vocalist Morpheus . The songs can reach epic proportions as the time of this cd shows , 7 tracks lasting over 59 minutes . This is one of the most unique and original bands out of Norway in a long time , and I personally think one of the best .
Favourite Tracks - Beneath The Burial Surface ; Through Gleams Of Death ; Beyond The Candles Burning
Mark - 9/10

Limbonic Art “In Abhorrence Dementia”
Nocturnal Art Productions , 1997
Lord Pale :
Same formula as “Moon In The Scorpio” but with better production and Daemon’s snat has lost the echo effect . More female vocals are included as well as Morpheus’s clean operatic voice , and a new vocal style is utilised sounding half way between a snat and normal singing . The keyboards now sound less majestic and more psychotic whilst remaining in the spacey theme . The artwork is again done by Morpheus and contains various cosmic/lunar depictions . The album has a little more emphasis on the guitars which can be heard much more clearly , and the album is heavier and slower overall . Tempo changes are abundant and more bombastic than previously , the songs also contain more variation on a whole than on “Moon In The Scorpio” . The vocals now react more frequently with the music to create catchy passages like on “When Mind And Flesh Departs” and “Under Burdens Of Life’s Holocaust” . The albums overall feel isn’t as dark as the previous release but there is definitely more malice and psychosis to be heard throughout the songs . Overall another excellent album , highly recommended to fans of the first album . If you didn’t like “Moon In The Scorpio” you may still find something you like on this album .
Favourite Tracks - Death Trip To A Mirage Asylum ; When Mind And Flesh Departs ; Behind The Mask Obscure
Mark - 9/10

Limbonic Art “Epitome Of Illusions”
Nocturnal Art Productions , 1998
Lord Pale :
Epitome Of Illusions is Limbonic Art’s demo material rerecorded , and enhanced with new ideas . The material has basically the same production “In Abhorrence Dementia” did but is more basic stripped down and heavy . The songs are simpler but contain all the Limbonic Art trademark characteristics - snatting , elaborate keyboards , opera vocals , semi snatting vocals ( similar at times to Atilla ) drum machine beats and heavy black metal guitars and a few new additions such as short solo’s . The lyrics are as usual of a high standard , as is the artwork once again provided by Morpheus . The disc contains 7 tracks ( one of which is a musical ) of Limbonic Art , few surprises except track 4 “Sources To Agonies” a totally keyboard/drum piece with crooning semi snat vocals which shows a gentler but still devious side of Limbonic Art’s progression . The musical “Arctic Odyssey” is a mildly classical keyboard track which builds up to a dark crescendo . Another good release and a good stop gap between albums .
Favourite Tracks - Sources To Agonies ; Solace Of The Shadows ; The Black Hearts Nirvana
Mark - 8.5/10

Limbonic Art “Ad Noctum : Dynasty Of Death”
Nocturnal Art Productions , 1999
Lord Pale :
It is immediately obvious from the start of the first track that this is Limbonic Art’s most brutal album to date . Initially I was disappointed with the new sound , the guitars are much heavier , the music and songs faster ( although still of epic proportions , 7 tracks lasting over 58 minutes ) , the keyboards less prominent , and the opera vocals absent . However this is still unmistakably Limbonic Art , the spacey artwork is still here as are the psychotic lyrics of “In Abhorrence Dementia” and the music is still predominantly the same except the guitars are pushed forward in the mix and the keyboards take a back seat . Daemon entirely handles the vocals now and as a result they are all his usual snat refined a little with the occasional death overlay and squeal . The keyboards now are much less symphonic , and just highlight and blend in with the music and sometimes following the guitar riffs “The Supreme Sacrifice” instead of being an integral part as they used to be . The song structures still contain tempo changes and breaks but sound more simplistic on a whole with less happening at once than previously . Still a good disc , but hopefully the next album will see a return to the older style or a refinement of the newer one .
Favourite Tracks - Dynasty Of Death ; Pits Of The Cold Beyond ; As The Bell Of Immolation Calls
Mark - 8/10

Limbonic Art 'Volume 1-4'
Hammerheart , 2000
Lord Pale :
Hammerheart appropriately decide to honour Limbonic Art with this release of all 4 of their albums with bonus tracks in a lavish fold out box set with an A3 booklet of the band giving insights to the recording processes of each album . I will just focus on the 'bonus' material for the purpose of this review . Only one new track appears on Moon In The Scorpio , in the form of 'The Dark Rivers of the Heart' . Starting with an acoustic/keyboard intro , it soon abruptly breaks into heavier realms in true Limbonic fashion . This track exhibits most of the unique qualitys of Moon In The Scorpio but definetly stands out amongst the other tracks with operatic vocals , spoken passages , trippy keyboards , and slowdowns it makes a worthy addition to the end of the disc . In Abhorrence Dementia sees 2 new tracks added : the psychotically happy ? 'Descend To Oblivion' with it's bouncy keyboards and operatic spacey folk chorus ; and the doomy dirge like beginning to 'Abyssal Necromancy' which sounds very primitive and dark before speeding off into Limbonic Psychodelia and ending with folky chanting . Both tracks fit in well and are great . Epitome Of Illusions sees the the upbeat yet vicious 'Phantasmagorial Dreams' join it's ranks adding some layered vocals and some loopy keyboards to the fray more reminscent of the Abhorrence material . Finally the brutal Dynasty Of Death recieves two new great tracks in the way of 'Beyond The Darkened Walls Of Sleep' ( one of my favourites ) , and 'Enthralled By The Shrine Of Silence' . The first of these tracks works well within the realms of their newly agressive style trying some precision clinical riffing and deathy vocals to its lengthy yet highly varied forte and finds Limbonic Art experimenting with a few new ideas . The second of the aforementioned tracks starts with a cyber style intro before floating into a slower more stripped back track thats gives the ears a welcome reprieve from the albums sonic barrage . I honestly find it amazing that these tracks were omitted the first time around as they all improve upon already great albums , thus making this limited edition ( 5000 copies ) boxed set the definative way to listen to Limbonic Art and with all the Cd's being picture discs it makes it highly welcoming to the collectors . Favourite Tracks - Too Many to choose
Mark - 9/10

Limbonic Art ‘The Ultimate Death Worship’
Nocturnal Art Productions , 2002
Lord Pale:
The Norweigan trio’s forth and sadly I believe final album is upon us. The Ultimate Death Worship is a slower, beefier, and darker album than ‘Ad Noctum: Dynasty Of Death’ was, with heavier, thrashier riff elements emerging across the album particularly in the title track. To their credit I believe the band has finally mastered the psychotic evil delirium their material has always provided on the brilliant ‘Towards The Oblivion Of Dreams’ from its disturbing spoken intro ( reminiscent of Golem from the Lord Of The Rings movies ) through to its tense vocal delivery in the chorus, and trippy keyboards. Two of the tracks ‘Purgatorial Agony’ and ‘Last Rite For The Silent Darkstar’ are shorter musical pieces with spoken vocals that add to the atmosphere of the album and helping to set the listener in the right frame of mind. The rest of the album is virtually guaranteed to please fans of the bands previous works with many elements of their past explored in newer tacks from the high velocity ‘Suicide Commando’ to the pulsing ‘Interstellar Overdrive’, and the doomier ‘Funeral Of Death’. ‘From The Shades Of Hatred’ introduces the haunting wails of Attila Csihar to duet with Daemons already sick vocals which all fans of the band will appreciate I am sure. Followers will know what to expect from the lyrics and artwork ( deranged and spacey respectively ) and will be glad to know that nothing has changed. Overall The Ultimate Death Worship is a fitting epitaph to a much underrated band.
Favourite Tracks – Towards The Oblivion Of Dreams , The Ultimate Death Worship , From The Shades Of Hatred
Mark – 8.5/10

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