DEMO REVIEW: Lamp Of Murmuur – The Burning Spears Of Crimson Agony

LAMP OF MURMUUR are one of the most high acclaimed Raw Black Metal bands, setting the underground alight with regular releases of ravishing, grim darkness. The new demo has just arrived and I for one am excited to hear what unique offerings are presented this time around.

Drums and gritty riffs thunder into a tempest of ravenously raw, ice-cold Black Metal with marvellously chiming cymbals cutting through the dense layers of riffs. Morbid howls and malevolent instrumentals continue to deliver a cathartically abrasive assault of the senses. The ripping extremity is unrelenting, driving out some of the most fantastically eerie and unnerving Black Metal mastery that Lamp Of Murmuur have offered to date, making a bold impression from the onset that lasts throughout in a very sinister fashion.

With an interlude and outro accompanying two main tracks (each of which lasting over ten minutes), there is plenty of grim, frostbitten and dark musical prowess on the new demo, transcending through medieval and ritualistic soundscapes with vicious dissonance that retains the old school feel of the music rather than feeling overly experimental or progressive. These aforementioned interludes revolve around a simplistic yet incredibly effective dark ambient sound that furthers the mysticism present in this tome of raw Black Metal genius.  The vocals certainly match the instruments in the ability to convey a haunting and chilling sound that pierces you to your core.

Thoroughly enjoyable, aggressive and bleak. Lamp Of Murmuur have returned with yet another new release demonstrating a flawless ability to conjure the purest blackened flame of mystical disdain and atmospheric excellence. Barrages and layers of mighty guitar, drum, vocal and bass onslaughts hit with vitriol and with the visceral execution, certainly do not fall short of magnificence. There is even a catchiness emanating from brooding grooves which still hold the macabre vibrancy of the demo in the foreground. Lamp Of Murmuur once-more achieve undeniable brilliance. -9/10