Servant - Lux Ed Inferis

Servant is a black metal band from Germany who formed 2021.  Their latest album, “Lux Ex Inferis,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released a demo. This is my first experience with Servant but this album quickly captivated me.  I like all kinds of black metal, from raw to bestial, but my favorite style of the genre has to be the bands that can take the seething aggression of the genre while throwing in melody and atmosphere.  

“Lux Ex Inferis,” fits into this category, balancing the more violent tropes of the genre with a sense of exploration that doesn’t detract from their sound or become derivative.   The band’s ability to balance their dynamics across the album owes much to the production and mix.  While it certainly is raw, neither does it glisten with a shiny, happy glean.  It is right where it needs to be, allowing the violent outbursts to sound genuine and the more atmospheric moments sound natural. 

The intro, “In Noctem,” is a bit misleading and that is a good thing.  While I do appreciate the introduction’s build up, the rest of the album doesn’t sound as artificial and airy so don’t let this song be your basis for the rest of the album. The first proper song, “Tavula Rasa,” is much more sterling, and gripping, an example of what your listening experience will be consisting of.  The drums sit perfectly in the mix—supplying the rhythmic flow but don’t overtake the other instruments.  Their tone is impeccable and despite their speed, they don’t sound robotic.  Vocally, it’s a sort of throating shout that does its own thing, but I really like the vocals because they work with the faster passages as well as the more epic ones. 

Acoustic guitars and subtle keyboards begin “Thanatos, Embrace of the Night.”  The mix gives way seamlessly to an onslaught of double bass and desperate vocals with clean keys keeping up the gentle tones from the beginning.  This song is pretty damn catchy, particularly with the passage that begins around the 3:23 mark that consists of an atmo passage that is almost soothing, followed by one that is anything but.  

One of my favorites on the album is “Of Stones, Sleep and Death,” because it represents the band’s overall style. This one is pretty aggressive with impressive drumming and hard-hitting bass.  The vocals bring a chaotic energy to them, especially when they ride on top of the double bass.  Of course, there are still a few moments of imaginative keyboards that are light coming through holes punched into a black canvas.

The final song “Hypnos I See You,” has a fantastic urgency to it, generated by the lead guitars and undercurrent of the bass.  The vocals give their all, a lot of piercing screams that echo through the music that is seemingly made for the night, hanging in the air like a full moon on a crisp autumn evening.  In the later half, the bass peaks out of the mix and drives the song hard.  

All in all, Servant’s “Lux Ex Inferis,” is an exciting melodic black metal album because it never forgets it is black metal first and foremost.  It uses melody and atmosphere to help build its identity—not overtake it.  This is an above average album with a ton of energy and is effective being played straight through or through a piecemeal basis because every song brings something to the larger picture.

Rating: Great