Limbonic Art - Phantasmagoria

\r\n

\r\n     Limbonic\r\nArt turned a new page in their own significant history after the departure of\r\nMorfeus from the band. Phantasmagoria is\r\nthe first LA release in the post - \r\nMorfeus era, and essentially the  remaining\r\nDaemon ‘s personal project. Inevitable is the question, whether LA, with this\r\ndiffering constitution, are presented, through this release, integrant or\r\ndeficient. \r\n

\r\n

\r\n     To\r\nbegin with, Phantasmagoria is indeed\r\nreminiscent of LA. More specifically it’s symphonic black metal. Their once\r\nvital musical characteristic, though, noise ambience has been almost\r\nannihilated (it is rarely spotted under the form of compositions’ epilogues).\r\nSimultaneously, the symphonic musical elements’ presence is permanent and\r\ncontinuous, way more intense than Phantasmagoria\r\n‘s predecessor, Legacy of Evil.\r\nAdditionally, and naturally, doom influences are also spottable ( e.g. A Black Sphere of Serenity ). Overall, Daemon is pursuing to\r\nconfigure a haunting climax, a claustrophobic ambience, which is quite epic/  grand at the same time. Regarding the\r\nriffing, this is approached slightly differentiated;  the thrash references at times, that is. In\r\nspite of all above mentioned, this album is mediocre.\r\nWhy ‘s that?\r\n

\r\n

\r\n     Although the instrumentation featured is\r\nrather impressive (the orchestration between the symphonic parts and the black/\r\nthrash metal parts), Daemon’s drum programming is notable, as it certainly highlights\r\nthe riffing (the drumming is not natural – a drum machine has been summoned), what\r\nthis release is lacking is inspiration. Inspiration\r\nconsidering the ideas – fundaments of this album. The riffing is mediocre: it\r\nis tiring, the fillers are numerous, and the album ( 70’+ of duration) seems to\r\nbe unjustifiably long (thus, exhausting at times) – on the contrary, songs as A World in Pandemonium, Prophetic dreams offer nice parts-. Daemon’s\r\neffort, although touching and remarkable is a priori doomed to a musical\r\ninfertility. He is passionately and patiently treating his material, this very\r\nmaterial though is insufficient, an unsuitable means to his end. As a result,\r\nhe often says nothing synthetically, oscillating between confidence and\r\ninstability.\r\n

\r\n

\r\n     The vocals in Phantasmagoria is a plus. Daemon sounds quite determined to prove\r\nthat he himself is sufficient to maintain the bar on the standard, high LA\r\nlevels. With an emotionally charged voice, his lines are slightly high –\r\npinched and aggressive. Daemon is reminiscent of a despaired owner of knowledge\r\naccessible to the selected few. The lyrics deal with the classic (and secure) theme\r\nof necromancy, darkness/ spiritualism and existential futility. The metrics are\r\nnot bad; however, they are threadbare.\r\n

\r\n

\r\n     Morfeus’ absence is detectable,\r\nnevertheless. Concluding, the combination\r\nof these two figures (Daemon and Morfeus) is what instantiates the band (structures\r\nits hypostasis). In their case, 1+1=3 applies. And that’s because one motivates\r\nthe other, one completes and propels another. Phantasmagoria, despite Daemon’s undeniably earnest/ eager/ notable\r\nendeavour, is encaged in mediocrity, because of the “shaky” fundaments, meaning\r\nthe basic and fundamental ideas and axis of this album are uninspired. \r\n

\r\n

\r\n \r\n

\r\n

\r\nΩ\r\n

\r\n