Список групп Ambiant Black Lustre (SWE) Serenity

Ambient black metal can be absolutely amazing when done right. The contrast between the harsh atmosphere and the tranquility completely blurs the line between two different genres that shouldn't really go together - but oh boy, they do, and it's been proven many times. Be it Darkspace, Vinterriket, Paysage d'Hiver or any of the other talented bands in the genre. The roaring black metal cutting through your skin whilst the ambient touches bathe the wound, simply fantastic. One can definitely see it's not a formula that is easily mastered to its full potential. But overall, Lustre does a pretty damn good job of it. Lustre's winter-ambient aesthetic here is both well composed and realized, though I can't shake the feeling it could have been better.

If there is one thing that can certainly be applauded, it's the hypnotic feel of "The Light of Eternity" - the only metal track on the demo. The synth melodies are haunting as they are infectious, and they do a good job of adding to the song - but I can't help but think that the rest of the aspects of this song are very lackluster. The guitar work is literally the same thing throughout, the same chord for 4 bars and then the chord four notes below it for 4 bars. Throughout the whole song. The drums are buried far too deeply into the mix to really appreciate them or make any constructive criticism over, which definitely isn't a good thing in retrospect. The vocals are pretty well performed however, but I can't help but think they should be buried a bit deeper into the mix.

But oddly enough, though there is a lot to criticize, a lot of the bad parts don't actually take that much away from the atmosphere Lustre is trying to create - which is quite remarkable. The song is well written enough that I can just look past the bad aspects and just let its atmosphere pull me in and wrap me in its cold, bleak atmosphere. So far so good, then. It's a shame that the second track doesn't hold this. It is a pure ambient track called "Waves of the Worn", and though the ambient tendencies are well executed, it doesn't do anything to hold my attention. Where the first track is ambient enough to completely wrap me in the winter-like atmosphere, this one tries a bit too hard for me. The metal aspects in the first track actually added to its ability to create a beautiful, mountain-like atmosphere. It's a shame the ambient stuff doesn't seem to stand up to its own.

Though really, anyone who can create a near-14 minute track of the same thing over and over (near enough) and make it not seem monotonous of boring deserves applause. If you thought bands like Burzum and Summoning were good at pushing material forward with little to work with, I think you'll appreciate the first track - and is definitely worth checking out based on it. Though the second track doesn't really hold its own weight, it's hardly offensive or horrible - it just could have been better - like a lot of songs on albums. Serenity is a success for what it was trying to achieve, and despite the music being incredibly simplistic and monotonous, it doesn't feel that way. For fans of Vinterriket and Paysage d'Hiver.

Admittedly there’s not a whole lot going on in Lustre’s Serenity. The sound is minimal, even by black metal standards. A lone keyboard churns out melodic lines whilst in the background a guitar lays down a constant backdrop. It’s all highly minimal but Lustre do this style a lot better than most of their contemporaries.

The thing that strikes me most about Lustre is the fact that the keyboards are actually louder than the guitars, and I really do mean a lot louder. The guitars role within this music is very minimal, all focus is placed on the keyboards and the occasional hissing shriek. Thankfully though, the keyboards are interesting enough to lead the music. The melodies they play have a very solemn vibe to them, highly emotional and beautiful; they work well in establishing a mood of somber melancholy.

For those not accustomed to this sort of music though, the repetition of the minimal keyboard lines may begin to wear thin on most people out there. For me though, I find the repetition soothing and tranquil. There’s no desire to be energetic or forceful within Serenity. Instead the music aims to create an atmosphere of almost indifference. The album as a whole sounds really quite languid yet remains brutally effective for doing so.

Aside from the keyboards, the vocals also play an important role. A constant whispered shriek, they sound solemn and far off; aloof would perhaps be a good way to describe it. In fact, this album as a whole sounds distant, as though it was recorded in some far off desert. Whilst Burzum’s Filosofem might have created a cold sonic soundscape through the use of ambient black metal, Lustre takes this to its furthest extreme.

With two tracks, Serenity presents two very different halves. The Light of Eternity rhythmic guitar backdrop and melancholic keyboard lines serve as a contrast to Waves of the Worn flowing keyboards and lush ambient soundscape. There’s more going on than meets the eye if you’re willing to give it the chance.

However, due to the esoteric nature of the album, this is a release I don’t often come back to. When I do, it’s great and I love it, but I have to be in the right frame of mind for this music to take effect. The somber atmosphere often becomes TOO somber, with the melancholic keyboard lines never letting up; the music can aptly be described as monochrome. And whilst I’m a huge fan of depressive music, I find Lustre to only hit the spot when in the correct state of mine, if not then I’ll just put on something else.

In fact, that’s probably Lustre’s biggest flaw. Whilst looking at their music from a purely musical standpoint, they’re pretty much flawless; the atmosphere is often too lonely and distant to fully appreciate when in a regular mood. Thus I wouldn’t recommend this to first time black metal listeners or even regular black metal fans as some of the other reviews have pointed out the lack of firm metallic elements and have criticized the albums sparse ambient deliver. If however, you’re looking for something bleak and hopeless to the extreme then you’d be hard pressed to find something that hits the spot quite like Serenity. In my opinion, Lustre is one of the best black metal projects of recent times. Sparse, hopeless and ultimately mood music, Serenity conveys a somber atmosphere like no other.