Doomed Nation

Sounds For The Lost Generation

Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Lucifuge (Germany)

Lucifuge (Black/Thrash Metal, Germany)

Since 2016, Germany’s Lucifuge have been steadily perfect an addicting style of blackened speed metalpunk, all guided by the iron fist of mainman Equinox. Come 2021’s fourth full-length »Infernal Power«, Equinox expanded Lucifuge to a full lineup, and it paid off in spades: the band’s first album under the banner of Dying Victims capped this signature sound with power and applomb, exuding a new professionalism that somehow sounded dirtier than ever.

It’s all righteously party-hardy stuff, headbanging and boozy to the bitter end, but »Infernal Power« palatably exudes a startling professionalism usually elusive to those flying the metalpunk banner, no doubt a result of the lineup expansion. Likewise, the evil is ramped up here, cobwebs of haunting melodicism draped delicately across Lucifuge’s no-less-crazed attack. And perhaps most interestingly, Equinox covers G.I.S.M.’s »As Good As It Is«, from that legendary Japanese band’s cult second album, »M.A.N.«, an idiosyncratic blend of epic metal and noise. Which is all to underline the relatively unique ground Lucifuge are travelling with »Infernal Power«; names such as Inepsy, Blood Spit Nights, and Kriegshog are as easily evoked as those of Exciter, Razor, and English Dogs – and of course, the almighty Warfare and especially equally early Running Wild and Onslaught UK.

And as forecasted last year by their short ‘n’ sweet split with Italian comrades Bunker 66, Lucifuge continue to spit-shine that sound with »Monoliths Of Wrath«. Immediately upon pressing “play” on this fifth full-length, it becomes clear that Equinox and crew are taking their sound in a newer but no-less-parallel direction. Unapologetically more technical than their more idiomatic “metalpunk” past, Lucifuge’s latest LP is not lacking for speed – in fact, it’s faster – but this much-more-directly thrash-oriented record takes sonic cues from classic Sodom, Kreator, Exodus, and of course Slayer. Thankfully, we’re still entrenched in the ‘80s here, but more accurately 1987 rather than 1984.

Likewise, the evil, blasphemic, and anti-religious themes are retained throughout the whole record, but »Monoliths Of Wrath« sees Lucifuge integrating some almost-atmospheric black metal passages in between. So, while it definitely follows from the aforementioned full-length and split, »Monoliths Of Wrath« involves much more complex song structures overall, which are given maximum power through the production: full-bodied and “pro” but hardly soft, Lucifuge’s first foray into a proper recording studio (rather than the practice room) makes a huge difference in highlighting their new dynamics and tempo variation. Oh, and did we mention the breakdowns? Seriously, this is a timewarp to ‘87, in the best possible way!

So, a blast from the past, but diffently: Lucifuge have truly nailed their own sound and direction with »Monoliths Of Wrath«.

Lucifuge’s highly anticipated fifth album »Monoliths Of Wrath« will be released April 28, 2023 on CD and vinyl LP formats via Dying Victims Productions. Order your copy at this location!

Discography:
• »Demo 2018« (2018)
• »Ride The Beast« (Call From The Grave Records / Vomit Records, 2018)
• »From The Cradle To The Grave« EP (2018)
• »Der AntiChrist« (Call From The Grave Records, 2019)
• »Equilibrium« EP (2019)
• »Among Dead Gods« EP (2019)
• »The One Great Curse« (2020)
• »Infernal Power« Single (2020)
• »Infernal Power« (Dying Victims Productions, 2021)
• »Of Night And Lust« Split w/ Bunker 66 (Dying Victims Productions, 2022)
• »Monoliths Of Wrath« (Dying Victims Productions, 2023)

Band members:
Equinox – Drums, Guitars, Bass and Vocals

Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube

For fans of Sodom, Kreator, Slayer, Warfare, Venom, Exciter, Razor, Desaster, early Onslaught

Courtesy of Dying Victims Productions

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well

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