Lucifer is the final word creative success story. On this late hour of heavy steel’s existence, there is a seemingly limitless choice of nostalgia-driven types. Sadly, a lot of the practitioners add little of curiosity to their chosen types, at greatest placing an excellent spin on an already established canon. However Lucifer is totally different — this can be a band that mixes a number of types from the late-70s and early-80s and makes one thing completely their very own. Within the course of, they iron off the tough edges of the supply materials and refine it right down to one thing really particular.
Do not get me improper, Lucifer V nonetheless bears a distinctly classic vibe, just like the scene in Halloween when the ladies are driving round listening to “Do not Concern The Reaper.” However it’s all offered in an up to date kind that takes the most effective from bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Coronary heart, UFO, Uriah Heap, and Coven and crafted right into a wealthy and constant bundle.
Nonetheless, I am blissful to say that, for the primary time because the band’s stellar first album (to not point out Johanna‘s earlier band), notable steel influences have conspicuously crept again in. Echoes of Black Sabbath, Candlemass, and Mercyful Fate may be heard throughout the album’s 9 tracks. In spite of everything, Nicke Andersson is within the band. Astute listeners could even be reminded of the gradual part of “Left Hand Path” whereas listening to “Gradual Dance In A Crypt.” Possibly that is simply me.
The songwriting is so robust on this album that it nearly performs like a best hits album. From the raucous steel fury of “Fallen Angel,” to the contemplative rocker “On the Mortuary” and the anthemic “Driving Reaper,” the album simply supercharges you immediately. Johanna‘s voice, whereas harking back to the Wilson sisters, has an influence all its personal that acts as an ideal anchor for the remainder of the band. Moreover, her vocals are channeled by means of catchy and infectious melodies that stick with you lengthy after every pay attention. That is very true of “Gradual Dance In A Crypt,” that “so we start” supply is simply so haunting and satisfying you can’t assist however be part of within the dance.
This tune is adopted up by the similarly-themed “A Coffin Has No Silver Lining,” a monitor that instantly remembers peak-era Ozzy, Kiss and Queen of their heavier moments (assume “Hammer to Fall”). It simply rocks! It rocks in a manner that hardly any music nonetheless does these days. In a simply world, Lucifer can be enjoying stadium-sized crowds in a 2024 equal of Reside Assist, as this tune would slot in completely. Likewise, “Unusual Sister” can be excellent simply because the solar begins to set on the gang and issues begin to get actually wild.
The album’s epic nearer, “Nothing Left To Lose However My Life” exhibits each band member shining as brightly as potential. Particularly, the tune comprises essentially the most guitar-hero worthy licks from Linus Björklund, who completely rips it up right here. However that is to not exclude the work of Martin and Harald, who play their guts out all through the album as properly.
I used to be an enormous fan of Lucifer‘s first album, and that one will most likely all the time be my favourite (“Purple Pyramid” stays undefeated). There have been cool components on the band’s second and third albums, however I nonetheless discovered them considerably middling compared. The fourth album confirmed the band’s onerous rock bonafides taken to their logical end result, an absolute triumph of an album. However I believe Lucifer V stands tall as the most effective onerous rock or basic steel albums of the final 15 years. In actual fact, I’d want listening to this over lots of the band’s influences. They have every little thing I may need from their type, and no filler. On the very least, it is an early entry on my albums of the yr record.
