Release Date: April 30th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl
A Forseen Loss - Tracklisting
1.Social pestilence
2.Alternating preeminence
3.Malicious hopes turned to dust (feat. Val Atra Niteris)
4.Humanity's closing chapter
Members:
Dr. Christian Engelmann - Guitars, vocals
Marc Odin Kade - Bass, backing vocals
Martin Heidler - Drums
Review
A Foreseen Loss is the debut album from Doom/Sludge/Post-Metallers Lightless who bring an aura of destructive Black Metal surroundings to the record. This is quite an expansive album which is told across four epic tracks lasting around eighty minutes in length. Some listeners may have their work cut out for them here with Lightless playing a sullen and moody piece of music at times though there’s a lot of different styles that Lightless never fully align themselves to.
The songs are highly complex, multi-layered and beautifully melodic when the times call for this with perhaps Lightless playing a brooding style of Cinematic based Blackened Doom. There are echoes of Ambient Metal and depressive slabs of Sludge Metal that ultimately takes time to fully form and appear within the majority of the songs held on the album. The music switches between slow-paced Post-Rock sounds and faster Post-Metal/Blackened Sludge grooves which aren't afraid to venture into more extreme styles especially with the excellent vocals from Dr. Christian Engelmann and Marc Odin Kade.
Lightless feel inspired by the likes of Wolves In The Throne Room and Fall Of Efrafa especially with the album’s take on HUMANS destroying NATURE and everything around them. The organic tone can brilliantly be felt through the lyrics and harsh vocal delivery that Lightless provides. With Lightless focusing primarily on slow-paced melodies and blackened Post-Metal structures for the majority of the epic opening track of Social Pestilence which transforms into a whirlwind of destructive passages fuelled by moments of Thrash, Death, Sludge and Prog Metal technical ability.
A Foreseen Loss continues with the hard-hitting and emotionally damaging social commentary which allows the record to be quite a thought-provoking record which becomes even extreme throughout the likes of Alternating Preeminence and Malicious Hopes Turned To Dust. The music once again opens with slow paced instrumental passages with a deft touch of uplifting melody and even clean vocals appearing.
The deeply engaging and brilliant emphasis on environmental themes allows A Foreseen Loss to be an unnerving and unforgiving experience. The technical ability that Lifeless perform on the record is nothing short of spectacular with different levels of Prog Metal, Extreme Metal and intense Sludge Metal vibes making this record truly a product of the wonderful underground metal scene.
Maybe the record maybe too long for some but if you’re a fan of the likes of THOU, Neurosis, Primitive Man, SUMAC and Wolves In The Throne Room then A Foreseen Loss is a record that will fully consume your soul and still leave you wanting to hear more. Lifeless experiment with Psychedelic sounds and long drawn out distorted notes which once again allows the band to play a sublime mixture of slow paced and fast paced grooves that results with a socially aware message that makes the listener feeling being knocked out by the worst case of BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA imaginable.
A Foreseen Loss is a jaw-dropping experience and if you’re a long time admirer of the Blackened Doom/Post-Black Metal scene then accept no substitute as these guys are real FUCKING deal.
Words by Steve Howe
A Foreseen Loss is available to buy now on CD/DD/Tape/Vinyl via Ligthless BandCamp Page.
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