Sectane Satani

Could it be? A modern Lucifugum album that actually has mids and lows in the mix? I never thought the day would come. That's the most striking thing you'll notice when you start up 'Sectane Satani' for the first time: the mixing has vastly improved. There's a much better balance between all the instruments, and even the bass is audible (though the vocals are still a pinch too loud for my taste). This might actually be the best produced Lucifugum album in the band's career up to this point, which actually means something for a band whose production style varies so wildly.

This is definitely a much less technical release in the guitar department than the previous two albums and seems to owe a lot more to Scandinavian styles of black metal rather than Lucifugum's typical Ukrainian/French mashup style. A lot of these riffs sound like elaborations on the tried and true 'Transilvanian Hunger' style, and the more straightforward rhythmic base also works to further this comparison. The strains of early Emperor and Darkthrone come out fully on this album, even though it's oddly devoid of keys- the riffs alternate between more traditional Lucifugum arrangements and stuff that wouldn't be odd coming from Ihsahn's guitar, but fused with a willingness towards full-fledged dissonance not seen since 'Vector33'. In general, the pace of this album is a lot lower than the previous few; even at its fastest it doesn't get very far above a brisk midpace, and the rhythm section has a much more ambient, throbbing texture than usual. This is probably the Lucifugum album that is closest to 'normal black metal'.

I'm somewhat up in the air with this one, much like 'Involtation'. On one hand, Lucifugum are still making solid songs in the style they've been playing for years. On the other hand, I'm not sure if I like the way they've sort of abandoned their unique style of riffcraft in favor of something more purely second wave. They're certainly capable of pulling it off- these overt Norwegian and Swedish influences were certainly present on albums like 'On the Sortilage of Christianity', but here it embeds itself almost uncomfortably deeply in the texture of the riffing itself. Still, there's just that hint of Heirdrainish chaos infecting these songs which prevents it from being anyone else. In general, I don't mind listening to this album but it's on the weaker side despite the improvement in production; I think Lucifugum does their best when in a more melodic, romantic mode.

Diehard Lucifugum fans will undoubtedly want this one, but I'd say most others can take a pass. This is too conventional for a band that relies on unconventionality to make their presence known. While there's albums I like less than this one, I think and know that the band can do better than this. Most of you can skip this, but the impassioned fans of the band should at least give it a try.

13th album! This band is extremely prolific. Band members seem to me very brave and indifferent to other’s opinion, because don’t afraid of making an album each year (sometimes even two albums a year!). Moreover, besides their band they also own a label (Propaganda), where they edited many fantastic black metal bands, such as Corpus Christii, Grand Belial’s Key, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Blood Stained Dusk, Lutomysl… So they seem to me real fanatics, fully dedicated to black metal spirit. I really wonder, how do they find a time for all this.

At-first about the title “Sectane Satani”: those who were attentive could see this title hidden on the pages of previous opus “Involtation”. Perhaps, the band wanted to show the spiritual connection between the albums. I suppose I could be wrong, but anyway I find these albums alike. And it’s a positive fact for those listeners who prefer a certain kind of black metal. I mean true black metal. At once I want to separate myself of crowd of those who are “tired” of “this black metal” and seek the new forms of art. No, I’m not afraid of looking primitive, and those who glorify the early days of black metal will understand my admiration of such orthodox acts as Lucifugum. Design of cd booklet is absolutely religious: desecrated angels, perverted christ, snakes and Devil. Two band members are corpse painted, it seems they do a some ritual with candles, chains and inverted icons.

The lyrics of five songs in Russian and I’m not able to estimate them, but sixth song “The breath of his will” is in English and Latin. My opinion: it’s a pity that Khlyst doesn’t write all his lyrics in English because the black philosophy of his thoughts is bottomless. There are not many black metal bands today whose lyrics are openly Satanic, because many ones forgot that black metal is about Satan and black wisdom. One more fact has taken my attention: there is no “hails” and “thanks” to anybody in cd booklet . And it’s remarkable because booklets of many “evil” bands are full of "hails" to girls, friends, dogs and of enumeration guitars/drums models.

Also inside the booklet you can find a so-called statement, traditional for the ideological bands. But in this certain case you’ll not see the phrases like “black metal war is eternal!”. The band clearly defines own place in black metal scene. I’m sure, many ones will not accept this statement since find it too categorical. As for me, I don’t agree with some views of the band (for example, personally I don’t see anything bad in gigs, of course, if I’m not too drunk, he-he), but I respect their point of view, because if isolation of band will positively influence their art I find it only useful.

Now about music: the sound is raw, cold and harsh, but the quality of record is enough satisfactory. I must note that two guitars play absolutely different melodies during the whole album. But it doesn’t disorient, these two harmonious, magnetic melodies force you to sit and listen, to sit and listen... Definitely, Lucifugum’s music is very far from primitiveness. But don’t wait for experiments, everything’s in the limits of a genre! It seems Khlyst and Stabaath pay many attention to their music in spite of their statement “we don’t play, we attack”. The vocal is really demonic and inhuman. Such vocal doesn’t need any distorted effects to increase its frenzy. By the way, harsh guitar sound and aggressive vocal forced me to forget that all this is performed by woman. Someone thinks that there is no place for woman in black metal, but I’m sure that only spiritual content is important, not male or female body. Black Spirit is out of a gender, it’s above the people’s rules.
I recommend this album to those few who are into black metal in its pure form and content.