When a black metal album has a painted cover, I know I'm in for some quality music. "The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy" is the newest LP by the black metal mastermind M's project, Lamp of Murmuur. The gothic art seeps into the music, as "The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy" blends symphonic black metal with gothic and melodic metal influences. I've only looked at the album, and I'm already excited.

The first single, "Forest of Hallucinations," is a nine-minute epic that wastes no time in creating a dreadful atmosphere. Shining through the muddy drums and riffs are delicate keys that offer a baroque feel to the track. The symphonic elements are placed nicely throughout the song, and they don't feel forced or unnatural. The mixing is the one questionable aspect. The drums and guitars are crumbly and distorted as they should be, but the vocals are also a bit swampy. While the melody is clear and the symphonic elements are audible, there are some segments where the noise washes over everything. I like its bombastic features, but I'm questioning the mixing. "Reincarnation of a Witch" is the second single. The track clearly draws influence from classic black metal, with blast beats and treble-heavy guitars. One highlight that both singles have is their lyrical content. Each line is poetic, recalling events about love and romance, but it still retains its harsh sound. These lyrical themes are most prevalent in "Reincarnation of a Witch." 

Sounds of dungeon synth open the album. A minute-and-a-half of D&D background noise, if you will. After the first single, "Hategate (The Dream-Master's Realm)" starts the flow again. The main riffs are catchy for black metal - they almost remind me of speed metal due to their groove and intensity. I've finally made terms with the vocal production, too. Clean, gothic vocals debut during the final moments of the track, and they work great. "Angelic Vortex" is a somber interlude that helps build atmosphere for the three-song suite coming up.

"The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy" is mostly taken up by a self-titled song broken into three distinct parts: "Pt. 1 - Moondance" is the soundtrack to a melancholic, longing day. The riffs, while simple, soar with the romantic lyrics. By this time, I've put all my gripes with mixing aside, and I've managed to lose myself in the dim world Lamp of Murmuur has put forth. The constantly plodding drums act as a landing pad for whatever guitar work is used. Again, the clean vocals appear, and they remind me of the 80's gothic/post-punk movement. "Pt. 2 - Twilight Orgasm" switches up the melody and replaces the full-force playing with a laid-back, post-rock vibe. The track has a lovely, fluid feel to it, and it may be the best song on the album. The post-punk singing style completely replaces the harsh vocals. The song is a slow builder, and it finally climaxes into "Pt. 3 - The Fall." The final part is also the longest, and returns to the typical melodic black metal sound. Everything feels blisteringly cold, with each riff a snowflake hurled at your ears. The suite is a rollercoaster of a song(s), and the defining moment(s) of the album. There is one final song, "A Brute Angel's Sorrow," and while I'd rather the track be placed earlier in the album so that the final moments of the suite end the LP epically, it's a solid piece nevertheless.

Well, my claim about painted covers holding great metal has been proven correct once again, this time by Lamp of Murmuur. This album dives deep into thoughtful and often cryptic messages, while also delivering solid black/gothic metal. The symphonies, melodies, and atmosphere of the album are all enjoyable. I'm taking a notch off for the mixing just because I'm a stickler for unnecessary crap, but that shouldn't sway you from "The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy."