Vanmakt

Ad Luciferi Regnum

Pulverized Records 2009

Vanmakt's second full length album sees these Swedes continuing on with a blasting black metal blend of melody and symphonic synths.  A melancholic Dissection-ish lead and mysterious sci-fi keys introduce the listener to the fiery black metal diatribe that Vanmakt are about to unleash.  The composition quickly develops constantly shifting drum patterns and twisting riffs that alternate from chugging chords, to somber melodies all the way to sawing rhythms.  Endless Myth begins with an icy melody before the drums pounce upon the track and song surges into the realm of blasting black metal whirlwinds.  Towards the songs middle, Satanic rally cries "hail" the coming of the dark lord against a backdrop of machine-gun drumming and mesmerizing melodic lead.  The Ascension paints a depressive mood with layered vocals (Female and black metal) and double bass drums to open the song but quickly the blasting drums open a violent onslaught which robs the track of its atmosphere.  Towards the song's end female vocals are used as another instrument but somehow it seems a little forced and ultimately falls flat.  The album reaches completion with Written in Blood with light-speed percussion alternating with chugging riff passages.  Av Svensson's vocals are your standard black metal shrieks.  I absolutely loathe the drum sound on this album.  A lot of times it sounds like a drum machine and the cymbals occasionally have an electronic hiss to them.  Vanmakt is standard black metal that is fairly well played but does nothing to truly distinguish themselves from most of their contemporaries.  There is just too much of this type of metal out there these days and Ad Luciferi Regnum sinks back into the murky sea without ever truly leaving an impact.