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LAMP OF MURMUUR “The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy”
LAMP OF MURMUUR “The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy”
By Dr. Abner Mality
LAMP OF MURMUUR has emerged as one of the real bright spots in an otherwise enervated black metal scene. They sure love to stay mysterious...I cannot tell you who is in the band or where they are from. In this case, the mystery seems fitting instead of a cheap gimmick, as “mystery” is a serious part of what this band is all about.
Last album “Saturnian Bloodstorm” was on the bestial side, but if I could describe “The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy” with one word, it would be “elegant”. There is a great baroque flow to the sophisticated black metal here that equals the best of classical music. For the most part, the songs are complex epics yet they don’t drag on. There’s a feeling of moving through a mysterious twilight inhabited by supernatural beings here. The songs twist through all manner of riffage, moving from lightspeed yet melodic blast beats to more measured catchiness like darkened “true” metal. The vocals are a kind of demoniac grinding tone that sounds like a Prince of Hell made manifest. But there are some surprising tricks on show. Like the DANZIG like smooth crooning on “Hategate (The Dream Master’s Realm” and “The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy Part III: The Fal”. Keyboards are used to wonderful effect, creating a real feeling of ethereal beauty without detracting from the aggression and speed of the music. Only on the last, mostly acoustic track “A Brute Angel’s Sorrow” does melody get the better of the band...this song is just too soft to fit with the rest of the album.
This is a rare case of art, music and lyrics all combining to provide a great whole. It ranks with great examples of melodic black metal such as DISSECTION and LIMBONIC ART yet retains its own sound and feel. I’d say LAMP OF MURMUUR’s reputation is wholly deserved.
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