Lucifer, are truly at their best when they fully embrace the devil in their sound. Charismatic singer Johanna Platow Andersson told Revolver magazine in 2018 that she felt the first Lucifer album was aimed more for the “doom and underground metal people,” and that she wanted their second album to attract a wider audience. Well, I’m one of those “doom and underground metal people” who loved their first album and is happy that their fifth release, while still maintaining the 70’s rock quality the band embraced more and more over time, is back to more evil Black Sabbath-inspired territory. This time though, they add a twist of the 80’s that keeps things fresh.
Since its inception in 2014 in Germany, Lucifer have proven to be more than a gimmick (not just Ghost with a female singer) and have quality song writing and memorable hooks. They have experimented over the years in the realm of hard rock, proto heavy metal, doom, and occult rock with clear nods to Black Sabbath, Pentagram & Blue Öyster Cult. A natural pairing with Ghost on a tour (they finally did join Ghost in Europe in spring 2023), they are a 1970’s metal revival of their own making.
On this album, Andersson, tries out some different vocal styles with more in-your-face tracks as much as her usual more ethereal ones. She remains the band’s consistent member, with the latest line up now hailing from Stockholm, Sweden.
Lucifer V opener “Fallen Angel” starts right off with a Motörhead meets Black Sabbath chunky guitar riff and sets the tone for the rest of the album, which harkens back to the early 80’s as much as it does the 70’s, adding dashes of WASP and Mötley Crüe to the band’s usual mix of Blue Oyster Cult meets Black Sabbath.
As the band progresses through the years of metal, the second track, the aptly named “At The Mortuary,” features dark and ominous fuzz-driven distorted guitar tones. The vocals have a dreamy delivery, conveying a sense of haunting.
All of the nine tracks, including songs like “Strange Sister, ” have some wicked lead guitar solos that add to that 80’s quality. “Strange Sister” especially has an early Mötley Crüe feel in the big, in-your-face quality to the vocals, a chantable hook in the chorus, and a bass line with a driving and melodic foundation to an overall energetic and anthemic sound.
The album ends on a lamenting note with “Nothing Left to Lose But My Life” which has some of the best guitar work on the album cascading through the scales effortlessly.
Single “Maculate Heart” is meant to be a little more accessible in its sound, but doesn’t feel out of place as it still has a dark quality. The follow up track “The Dead They Don’t Speak” sticks out though as about as dark as straight ahead hard rock can get. As if Heart rehearsed in a cemetery.
This album released on Nuclear Blast Records on January 26th 2024 is definitely worth a listen if you’re into evil shit.
Lucifer goes back on their The Satanic Panic Tour in February 2024 in Europe with Angel Witch and guests Attic and The Night Eternal.
PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE LUCIFER V:
https://lucifer.bfan.link/lucifer-v
LISTEN TO ‘MACULATE HEART – RADIO EDIT”:
https://lucifer.bfan.link/maculate-heart
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘MACULATE HEART – RADIO EDIT’:
https://youtu.be/uOIA6RONj5k
