Band: Black Lotus
CD Title: Light Subsides
Year: 2006
Website: BlackLotusMusic.net
MySpace: Myspace.com/blacklotusmetal
Label: Dying Empylver Productions
Featured on: Burning Misery.
Rating: 9.2 / 10
More Links: Please discuss this review and band in the Black Lotus thread on the Loucifer Speaks forum.

I'm not completely sure exactly how Black Lotus ended up in my life, but I do know that it had something to do with MySpace - either I added them or they added me. I doubt it really matters either way since I soon ordered their album - "Light Subsides".

Having never really heard Black Lotus before, aside from the tracks on their MySpace, I wasn't too sure about what I should expect.

Black Lotus hail from Canada (I seem to have found a wealth of good music from Canada recently) and play an exquisite mixture of Black Metal with beautiful melodies, a 'Viking feel' and some Doom influences. I guess an easy way to describe this band would be Folk Metal or Folk Black Metal, but they seem to be a touch more than that. I have been on a bit of a Viking and Black Metal kick recently, so after the first listen to this album, I knew it was right up my alley! "Light Subsides was released by the Chinese label Dying Empylver Productions. One confusing thing about this album is that, while there are 9 tracks on the CD, there are 10 titles listed on the CD cover. I've checked on Black Lotus' website and, while the tenth title "Utopia" is listed, it doesn't have a track length next to it. Throughout the album traditional folk instruments combine with the Black Metal style guitars and classical guitars.

Now for the track by track review. In order to avoid any more confusion that may occur due to track numbering and titles, I will give (what I believe to be) the track title and the track number.

Track One - "Helios Amaranthine" - This is both the opening track and the longest track on the album. The almost orchestral opening gives a tranquil yet slightly unnerving feeling before breaking into the Black Metal styled vocals and guitars (following the same chord progression as the introduction). I think this is a brilliant touch. It's music like this that helps me to remember that there is 'beauty within darkness' (this is something that I try to explain to people who don't understand why I like this genre. Perhaps in future I will just play them this track).

Track Two - "Signatura Rerum" - I absolutely love the melody in this track and it has quickly become one of my favourites on the album. The vocal phrasing is excellent and it's possible to follow the lyrics with the aid of the CD booklet. The reason why I've said this is because sometimes the vocals are too fast, distorted or raspy to do this. While the vocals on this track are raspy, Black Lotus have managed to still make them decipherable.

Track Three - "Canis Lupus Luna - The Song Of Boreas" - This track seems to be completely soaked in Viking melodies. This is particularly apparent during the clean vocals at around 2 minutes or so in.

Track Four - "Seal 46" - This track follows a similar rhythm pattern to the previous track. It's not exactly the same, but similar enough that the transition from track to track is flawless.

Track Five - "Incandescence" - This is a fantastic instrumental which has some beautiful classical guitars and some kind of wind instruments, which work brilliantly.

Track Six - "Machinery Brings Mold" - This track seems much heavier in comparison to the previous one and the vocals are on top form! It's definitely another one of my favourites. The clean vocals bring an extra dimension to it.

Track Seven - "Cosmic Currents" - Track seven starts off with a deeper tone than the others (well, it seems to in my mind!). I prefer the more 'extreme' vocals in this trach, rather than the 'clean' (almost chanting) ones.

Track Eight - "Light Subsides" - And so we reach my third favourite from this album, the title track. I find that his track really sums up the feel of the album. It has that unmistable epic feel to it, is relatively calming and has the ability to take you away to some far off land, and keeps hold of those Black Metal roots. Excellent stuff.

Track Nine - "Told In Chivalry" - I love the poetic lyrics in this track. Here's an example: "There was plenty of treasury told in chivalry / Yet all we want was truth".
At around 2mins 15secs the track changes to an instrumental. I'm guessing that this is the part with the title "Utopia" applies to. Either way, it provides the album with some closure and, if you could imagine "Light Subsides" to be a movie, this would be the music that plays during the end credits.

I'd recommend this album to anyone who likes the calmer side of Black Metal... Or to anyone who might like to give it a go.