Wrath Of Logarious Crown Of Mortis CD Review
California has spawned one of the most intense Black Metal bands I’ve heard in a long-damned time in Wrath of Logarius. W.O.L. are newcomers to the scene or well let’s say newish as they’ll be unleashing their debut full length entitled “Crown of Mortis”. To my understanding they’ve already released an EP, but let’s just count this one, a few tracks ain’t gonna tell you much about this band. Or at least it wouldn’t tell me much.
Something that’s new to me is that in the band’s bio it states, the band is a formless Black Metal band. What the hell does that mean, I’m not truly sure. From what it says, you don’t know what to expect next – it’s sort of all over the place and its damned MEAN! I thought the new White Chapel and Heir album were full of venom, but this album takes them out back behind the barn and puts one behind their ear. Fans who really appreciate bands like Belphegor, Dying Fetus and Behemoth should flock to this in droves, in short, it’s Blackened Death Metal turned up to 1,000 and it’s not for the faint at heart. Intense doesn’t even begin to describe the malice and ill will of the songs on this album. Typically, I run from stuff like this, but this one gives me that feeling of a beautiful train wreck/disaster that you drive by every so often - you just can’t help yourself but to stop and look at the destruction. And the fucking drumming is otherworldly. For the fans of the band, Grima, you’ll be pleased to know Vilhelm from the band guests on the tune “The Ethereal Mist”.
As most know, this isn’t my everyday choice of listening, it’s unsettling and way over the top for me, but for what it is, it’s not bad at all. It’s brutal and all over the place much like Avant Garde Prog Metal, but there’s really something here – lots of meat on the bone. Sheer talent and aggression alone deserve accolades. I’d be lying if I said the recording was the best, to me it’s a bit on the hot side, the band would’ve benefited from some warmth and organic tones in the studio. It wouldn’t have softened the music; it would’ve helped to make it more approachable to the listener. As it sits, it’s violent and wilder than a tiger who’s been fed a bag of meth with their grub. Look for this band to get on some good package tours, they’re primed and ready to hit the big stages and rip your insides out!
Stand outs – “The Ethereal Mist”, “Lurker’s Tomb”, “Dread” and “Long Dead the King”.