AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: AS LIGHT DIES — “LA ASCENSIÓN”

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Feb 142023
 

More than eight and a half years ago we highlighted the Spanish black metal band As Light Dies as an example of a group who had surprisingly and successfully incorporated an extravagant variety of musical interests into their creations, exuberantly pushing them into the realms of the avant garde. At that time, the occasion was our premiere of a head-spinning song from a full-length record named The Love Album – Volume I, which was released in October 2014.

As Light Dies are now returning with their next album after this long hiatus. Their fourth one overall, its name is The Laniakea Architecture vol.II, and it will be released on March 9th via the Darkwoods label. It is described as “their most complex and multifaceted album in their whole career”, which is kind of a jaw-dropping thing to contemplate for those of us familiar with their previous bewildering and bedazzling works.

Two songs from the album have already surfaced, and today we present a lyric video (in Spanish) for a third one, so that you can judge this claim for yourselves. Its name is “La Ascensión“. Continue reading »

AN NCS PREMIERE: AS LIGHT DIES — “NEMESIS”

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Sep 112014
 

Not very long ago I mused about the benefits and risks of albums that incorporate a wide variety of musical styles. When successful, such albums can surprise and stand out from the sea of records whose creators choose to focus on basically the same kind of sound (save for the occasional instrumental intro or interlude). When a band’s reach exceeds their grasp, however, the result can be a jumble that lacks cohesiveness and becomes jarring instead of fascinating.

As Light Dies from Spain are an example of a band whose diverse musical interests and ambitions have pushed them into the realms of the avant garde — which to be honest is a nebulous phrase that often gets thrown around when we can’t think of a better description, one that encompasses both creatively exuberant, genre-jumping successes and the kind of jarring jumbles referred to above. The latest album by As Light Dies (their third) signals right in its title that normal metal conventions will not apply to what lies within its nine tracks and 35 minutes: The Love Album – Volume I.

And if that’s not plain enough, consider that the list of musical influences they identify ranges from Wim Mertens to David Bowie to Phillip Glass to Dead Can Dance, Borknagar, Ved Buens Ende, Mordbid Angel, and Gorguts.

While you try to wrap your mind around that, let me say a few words about “Nemesis”,  the song we’re about to premiere from TLA – Vol. I. Continue reading »