Lvthn – The Devil’s Bridge (Smarty Pants Occult Black Metal)
Ah, the serene cover art you see above so accurately captures the experience of listening to The Devil’s Bridge. I don’t believe I’ve heard of Belgium’s Lvthn until this moment, and though they’ve been around for over a decade, their offerings have been sparse as they maintain an aloof existence in the community. But what appears neglect is not the case, it is rather a need to sleep, evolve, reawaken, and begin the cycle anew. In this case it does the band a huge service, because it’s exactly this mystique keeps their occult presence above the murky surface of the ancient black metal waters upon which so many of us have rowed. See how I incorporated the imagery up there? I’m smart. But Lvthn is smarter.
The Devil’s Bridge flows like a wispy novella published in the 19th century when the Queen’s death was imminent. Lvthn are steeped in the traditions of black metal, but their approach is much different. Metaphorically the band states this album makes music into a weapon, but it should be clear it’s not the bright, sharpened blade of a spree killer. It’s a hemlock-derived poison placed into communion wine, a velvet-covered chaos. Lvthn avoids pure assault, though there is certainly a boldness to their sound, as they create delicate patterns like stars manifesting at dusk. Think of it as an overwhelming storm but instead of ripping apart the listener with its winds, you’re rather in the center, where a strange, horrific calm abounds. The Devil’s Bridge features many moments like this, where Lvthn don’t simply play, they craft a greater design. A pretentious statement? Not at all. This is black metal as a form of high art. With their unusual, and noticeably experimental progressions, symphonic elements, and vocals that cover the full style of black metal delivery while shifting to hideous shrieks and moans of agony, the band’s scene absence is a quality worth exploiting. It was worth the wait, had I know about them before lol.
Written by Stanley, Devourer of Souls
Lvthn – The Devil’s Bridge
Amor Fati Productions
Cover Art: Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustration)
4.5 / 5
