LUCIFERIAN RITES now return with one of the most anticipated Black Metal albums of the year and their career defining work “Oath of Midnight Ashes.” Containing 11 spiritual hymns of Satanic devotion, the album heralds the classic Finnish Black Metal sound. Through their praises of crimson wisdom, astral decay, and sacraments of grief and torment for the Devil’s Cross, LUCIFERIAN RITES takes you through the last abyss to swear your “Oath to the Midnight Ashes.” The album has 11 songs.

The short “Intro” introduces the album, with somber symphonic tones, leading to an utter chaotic sound of “Oath of Midnight Ashes.” It sounds like Black Metal turned up to 11, and with a presentation of treble in the production. The screams are vile, and that’s the main focus of the music. “Omnia Oscura” is unfortunately more of the same. The band has hooked up the nitrous to their 2009 Chevy, and the power it generates is just too much for the old lady. The screams are so loud that they can probably be heard in Hell.

“Behind the Leviathan Storm” is a bit slower, but the pedal is still pushed firmly to the floor. There is a little variation in this song compared to some of the others, but it is still very reminiscent of FWOBM madness. “Under the Devil’s Cross” has a similar pace and sound. At this point in the album, the band should be able to show more variation in their sound, but they let the fire burn out of control. “Lord of the Last Abyss” is more of the same. At this point in the album, one can expect the sound to continue. “By Sacrament of Grief and Pain” is, you guessed it, more of the same again.

“Spell of the November Whispers” closes the album, and it’s another burner without caring about convention. Overall, besides being an album that just travels forward at the speed of light without relenting anything along the way, it was too one-dimensional and repetitive for me. It’s a shame too, because the band has talent, but it is buried.