Black Metal brings us a new name, UMBRA CONSCIENTIA, a German and Costa Rican based band. Their first album was released at the end of last year, in December 2019, "Yellowing of the Lunar Consciousness". From the depths of hell, this album was birthed. Whose ghoulish screams lay to rest all peaceful calm, and dump you into the pit of everlasting flames. Apt that this band can be quoted as saying "spread the dark and revealing flame of Lucifer". We can't all worship the light, some of must be in darkness. If we were all the same it would be boring. Some of my most favorite bands sing about Lucifer. From epic, melodious, praise type songs to dark savagery, shredding riffs; each has its own beauty. Enter UMBRA CONSCIENTIA, whose fast pace picks you up from the get go and doesn't release you from its tumultuous waves until its last dying screams. While I am on the fence about this album, I noticed many individuals comment how much they did like "Yellowing of the Lunar Consciousness". Thusly, I write this review two ways. One, with my own opinion; and two, with the collective of what others liked about the album.

"El Caos Que Precede a la Creacion" - Melodic guitar entry with a haunting veil. Many have expressed a love for this band's musicians, drum and guitar/bass alike. The word "precision" has been tossed around in reference to this band's players. This song, however, I do very much like. Its lovely tunes hit the mark and dive us into the album swimmingly. "Maze of Exhile" - Don't let that soft intro fool you, this is not a pretty album. And this song illustrates this well. With lustful images of hell, and dark images of demonic entities ignite nightmarish flames in the depths of despair. "Romance of Contradictions" - Again we have a heavy hitting song. One thing I dislike about this album is that I feel each song sounds a little bit too similar. Such as illustrated here in this song. Again, we have hellish screams and heavy hitting sounds. But it sounds like the last song to me. Now, that being said, just because it sounds similar doesn't mean the instruments weren't played well, nor the vocals sung with gusto.

"Umbra Conscientia" - While I still feel, I am having a hard time differentiating from each song as most have that similar sound, there is some subtle differences in the vocals here. Less "Rahhhhhhhh" accompanied by heavy riffs, and more enunciation of lyrics. There is some very good guitar playing in this song. Again, I state, song similarity may not exactly equate to a lack of talent here. "Lord of Phosphorus" - Interesting song title, makes me think of that phosphoric glow salt water can get at times. However, I feel this song just does not invoke the same wonder in my senses as that salt water glow. At the risk of repeating myself, I feel like the band just repeated themselves. Hard hitting music set to those hellish screams. One song just blends too much into the next.

I truly hope I give this band the credit they deserve. We all have different preferences in musical tastes. Just because I feel the way I do, doesn't mean you will. So do check these guys out. As I mentioned before I saw many great comments from fans saying they really like these guys. So, don't take my word for it. I'm just a girl who writes articles of opinion. I stress that last part, opinion. My opinion may not be the same as yours. I do hope to hear from UMBRA CONSCIENTIA again. I am curious to see what they create and how they grow as a band next album.