Reviewed by Behemoth (3/24/05):
The apostate is a student of the arts - delver into the dark world. With this apostasy Luciferion draws one into a conceptual analysis within the eyes of a serpent through transcendental fusion of a worldly vision.
The band has been around for quite a long time, initially joining forces in 1993, and subsequently recording a Swedish demo. The band was quickly discovered by Listenable and has stood the test of time through the past decade. In its infancy, the band toured Gothenburg, playing well attended shows in support of Dissection and Marduk (who currently have a new album on the street).
They recorded their debut in 1994 producing the darkly laden Demonication (The Manifest) which included an evil rendition of Sodom's "Blasphemer." As time passed, so did band members; Luciferion recruited Hans Nilsson to take over the drum kit, and he shares equal time with Diabolique - a great act, by the way. The Manifest built a substantial European fan base, but those interested have had to wait quite a long time for a follow up release. Through the passage of time other band members have journeyed to notable acts including Dark Tranquillity.
This brings us to this moment as Luciferion weaves the old black magic into the The Apostate, a synthesizer-laden masterpiece, in the league of, say, Nocturnus. A powerful sound is constructed and deconstructed off an electronic platform. The musical score veers through aggressive guitar tracks, segued with bits of melody to subtly smooth transitions. The band delivers a well executed product, the musicianship frankly speaks for itself. Death metal is a world unto itself; there are quite a few imposters amongst the masses, as we all know so well. Luciferion manages to fly under the radar screen waving its magic wand for the New World to see. The band decided to include a cover (incorrectly) of Celtic Frost's immortal "Circle of the Tyrants." In addition, included are bonus tracks from The Demon, a 1994 product. Not a bad listen, and hail to the longevity of Luciferion.
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