Finland Death-Doomers LURK Turn Loose “Infidel” from Fourth LP ‘Aegis’

The marriage between doom and death metal was inevitable, but its long life was not. Yet here we are more than three decades hence and the subgenre still thrives. A band that’s been active at least half of that time is Tampere’s LURK, active since 2008 and now with four full-length records to their name. The first three LPs came together in steady succession: Lurk in 2012, Kaldera in 2014, and Fringe in 2016 (reviewed here). While no explanation has been offered for the recording silence that ensued, I was nevertheless delighted to learn of a new offering: ‘Aegis’ (2023).

The title more than hints at the shield carried by Zeus and Athena, which the Iliad says “produced a sound as from myriad roaring dragons.” There is, in fact, a dragon on the album cover made up of warriors, demons, and demented souls. Each of the seven tracks play wonderfully to this horrifically beautiful and detailed painting, though it is not (to my knowledge) intended to be programmatic.

“Cursed!” the dread voice of K. Koskinen cries out, as the new single “Infidel” lumbers. It’s a creepy number, made all the more so by A. Pulkkinen’s synthesizer. His guitar leads are forlorn and searching, whilst E. Nurmi’s bass is a warm consolation. Drummer K. Nurmi keeps things sailing along smoothly, making the song feel like a vessel adrift on the river Styx. This is now the 4th single ahead of the record’s imminent release.

Lurk’s new album Aegis is morbid, bruising, and maudlin, yet robust and sustaining throughout – at times even tranquil. Look for it on Transcending Obscurity Records in digital and compact disc formats this Friday, April 7th (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Serpentine Path, Fange, and Cult of Occult.

Give ear…

SOME BUZZ

Finnish band Lurk return with their unique brand of slow, dreamy, unpredictable and vile sludge/doom to confound and enthrall listeners all over again. The deceptively catchy and entrancing quality of the music has been honed and the music slithers in its inimitable way, progressing in directions not easy to ascertain.

The music itself is a blend of multiple subgenres and is far too evolved now for the influences to be clearly identified. The band upholds this singular sound throughout the album and still manages to give each of the seven songs their own identity. Without a perceptible disruption of momentum, they all succeed in shifting the mood their own way, adding variations and conveying a wide range of emotions.

For an album that may seem innocuous, it will leave you emotionally vulnerable by the end of it all. For fans of Altar of Betelgeuse, Eibon, Usnea, Subterraen, Adramelech, Fleshpress.