INCONCESSUS LUX LUCIS is a Black Metal band that formed in Manchester, U.K. in 2009, from the ashes formerly known as WHORETHORN. They presented their first full length in 2014, titled "Disintigration: Songs of Veneration for the Nefarious Elite." How in late 2017, they present their newest offering, "The Crowning Quietus," which contains six tracks. "With Leaden Hooks and Chains" is a short, opening mood-setting piece. The mood is somber, with hushed voices and eerie background effects. I imagine this might be what you would hear as you take the first steps descending into Hell.

"Amour Rides upon Midnight" is a frightening song, with a fast pace, complete with vocals that shake your very soul. Some varied riffing and tricky time shifting push a modern sound in the genre, though very much rooted in the rich traditions. "At the Behest of the Sinister Impulse" has a rhythm to the vocals that almost seem regimented...it makes for some texture that you can almost feel. Some of the riff passages could be bordering in the Thrash genre as well. Definitely an inventive approach to Black Metal. That harrowing sound is still present at all times however. "To Satiate Silence" is close to eight minutes in length, and has more of that classic "wall of sound" from the guitar presence and a two-step chord that creates that dissonance and chilling effect. But the riffs are not afraid to stray from the beaten path at times either. Sometimes the intensity can overwhelm you. It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

"The Crowing Quietus" could be what might result from MOTORHEAD taking the road to the Morgul Vale, or the Mountain of Shadow in Tolkien's Middle Earth. Classic NWOBHM riffing was charred by fire and mutated into a Black Metal spawn. "Fever upon Firmament" is the closing track; a near nine-minute opus. It's a punishing exercise in the dark and brutal side of music, requiring your submission, or sacrificial offering. About half way through, it totally shifts gears, with the galloping rhythm of a band like IRON MAIDEN and inspired riffs to boot. Have they created their own new sub-genre here? The band calls their music "Santurnian Black Magick." "The Crowning Quietus" is definitely a hybrid of the Black Metal genre, and there is a lot to like here. I've heard genre blending similar to this before in these areas of Metal, but this album does it with an outright confidence and disregard for convention. You gotta respect their commitment to their craft.