Okkultokrati - La Ilden Lyse (Album Review)

Release date: May 15th 2020. Label: Southern Lord Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

La Ilden Lyse – Tracklisting

1.Thelemic Threat 03:44

2.Grimoire Luciferian Dream 05:40

3.Loathe Forever 04:38

4.Freezing Vortex Death Dreamer 04:02

5.Cold and Cruel 04:35

6.Kiss of Death 06:14

7.Mother Superior 05:18

8.Lunatics - Mondsüchtig 05:07

9.The Dying Grass Moon 07:02

Review

La Ilden Lyse is the new album from Black Metal/Hardcore/Sludge Metal Mob – Okkultokrati – and their first new material in four years. The band continue their punishing and brutal blend of pitch black music that combines Crust Punk, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Black Metal with a blistering Hardcore edge. The band are now 5 albums into their 12 year career and the band are just as hungry as ever.

La Ilden Lyse is an uncompromising listen with it’s fair share of Blackened Sludge Metal Grooves and vocals to match. Okkultokrati have got their blend of music down to a fine art but this is perhaps the bands most nightmarish and surreal offering to date with the Black Metal vibes leading the way from despairing journey to the next with 9 songs listed on the album.

The vocals are quite volatile from start and the band play a fast-paced of music which is perhaps down to the Crust/Hardcore Punk influences that Okkultokrati use for this album. This is quite a challenging album and one that is more technically impressive compared to their 2016 offering Raspberry Dawn. The music is more abrasive here with the lead vocals having a classic Thrash/Punk/Death based feel to them.

Standout songs on this album include: Grimoire Luciferian Dream, Loathe Forever, Cold And Cruel, Kiss Of Death and The Dying Grass Moon. - with these songs containing the heaviest and bleakest grooves on the entire album.

La Ilden Lyse shows Okkultokrati on truly inspired form especially when they bring their Hard Rock/Heavy Metal style of music to the album and offer a more heavy stylized version of Crust Punk/Blackened Sludge Metal that has quite a few head-banging moments along the way.

This is without a doubt Okkultokrati best album to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Lauren at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. La Ilden Lyse is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Southern Lord Records.

Links:

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Okkultokrati - Raspberry Dawn (Album Review)

Release date: September 23^rd 2016. Label: Southern Lord Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Raspberry Dawn – Tracklisting

World Peace

Raspberry Dawn

We Love You

Suspension

Hard to Please, Easy to Kill

Hidden Future

Ocular Violence

Magic People

Review:

I’ve heard of Okkultokrati before but I’ve never listened to them before I was given their new album – Raspberry Dawn – to review. I didn’t know what to expect though I know they’re a band that are very highly thought of in their respective scenes. I’m still trying to decide what that scene actually is as Okkultokrati’ sound is very hard to describe. Parts Noise Rock, Punk, Doom, Sludge and Black Metal.

With the band being four albums into their career, they know how to write a great song packed full of different ideas with a lot of groove. Raspberry Dawn is perhaps one of the more interesting and hugely entertaining albums I’ve heard this year. It’s a very hard album to listen to at times but Okkultokrati have a huge likeability factor running throughout the album.

Opening track – World Peace – is a hardcore punk driven song with elements of Noise, Doom and Sludge riffs with grizzled vocals to match. The guitars have a cool psychedelic vintage edge with the vocals flirting from Hardcore clean vocals to distorted grunts and growls.

Second track – Raspberry Dawn carries on the Hardcore Punk/Noise Rock twisted hybrid sound with the band creating heavy moments of pounding bass guitars as the main instrument of choice. The Psychedelic Doom based vibes adds an interesting touch as the album becomes more enjoyable as a result.

It’s to Okkultokrati’s credit they have created a set of songs that sound very different to each other. Take the third track – We Love You, for example. This sees the band add a more synth based sound before it turns into a slightly more gothic/doom based sound. Other great songs to check out are: Leave and Be Gone, Hidden Future and Magic People. Each of these songs demonstrates how inventive Okkultokrati are compared to other bands. Raspberry Dawn proves that there is currently not many bands around such as Okkultokrati. As the band create their own distinctive and original sound.

I maybe a first time listener to Okkultokrati’s world but I feel Raspberry Dawn will appeal to both long-time fans and first time listeners such as myself. Raspberry Dawn is a haunting and complex album to listen to at times but what an exciting ride awaits you. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jack at Rarely Unable PR for the promo. Raspberry Dawn will be available to buy on CD/Vinyl via Southern Lord Recordings from September 23^rd 2016.

Links:

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